Example 2 - An Explosion
Problem: A 50 kg projectile is moving
with a velocity of
when it explodes into four equal pieces
(rather unlikely). One piece is ejected vertically downward with an initial
speed of 50 m/s. Another is forced forward horizontally at 230 m/s. A third
is given a velocity of
Find the velocity of the fourth piece.
Solution: Using conservation of momentum,
and vector notation rather than splitting off two scalar equations,
