A satellite was in two separate crashes. In both crashes, the satellite had the same mass. Engineers want to know about the speed and direction of the satellite after the crashes. Why would the crash affect the motion of the satellite, and which crash caused a greater change in motion for the satellite?

WILL GIVE BRAINLIEST

For this problem we consider a system formed by the satellite and each of the bodies with which it collides, in this system the forces during the collision are internal, the amount of movement must be conserved. Let's write the momentum is two instants

Most massive body (m1)

initial. Before the crash

p₀₁ = M v + m₁ v₁

after the crash

[tex]p_{f1}[/tex] = M v´ + m₁ v₁´

how momentum is conserved

p₀ = p_{f}

Lighter body (m2)

p₀₂ = M v + m₂ v₂

p_{f2} = M v´ + m₂ v₂´

Let's clarify that the speed of the satellite and the object do not have the same direction, in general these shocks are elastic.

We can see that p₀₁> p₀₂

Let us analyze the two cases when the body collides, The most massive body (m₁) transfers more momentum to the satellite, therefore there must be a greater change in its momentum and velocity.

The fastest satellite must change orbit, thus rotating at a different distance from Earth