Question

Part A A space vehicle returning from the Moon enters the atmosphere at a speed of about 34,000 km/h. Molecules (assume nitrogen) striking the nose of the vehicle with this speed correspond to what temperature? (Because of this high temperature, the nose of a space vehicle must be made of special materials; indeed, part of it does vaporize, and this is seen as a bright blaze upon reentry.) Express your answer using two significant figures Submit My Answers Give Up

Answer 1

for a moleculle striking the surface of the spacecraft at speed v = 34000km/h = 9444.4444 m/s
molecule molar mass, M = 14 g = 0.014 kg ( nitrogen)

now, rms speed of a molecule at temperature T = sqroot(3RT/M)
so, 9444.444 = sqroot(3*8.31*T/0.014)
T = 500.908 K