Two asteroids with masses mA and mB are moving with velocities VA and VB with respect to an astronomer in a space vehicle.
(a) Show that the total kinetic energy as measured by the astronomer is with von and M defined as in Section 8.5, vA = vA - vcon' and vB = VB - Von. In this expression the total kinetic energy of the two asteroids is the energy' associated with their center of mass plus the energy associated with the internal motion relative to the center of mass.
(b) If the asteroids collide, what is the minimum possible kinetic energy they can have after the collision, as measured by the astronomer? Explain.

Transcribed Image Text:

K = Mu +(m,vf + mpvf)