Question

A probe in deep space is infested with alien bugs and must be blown apart so that the icky creatures perish in the interstellar vacuum. The craft is at rest when its self-destruction device is detonated, and the craft explodes into two pieces. The first piece, with a mass of 6.00×108 kg, flies away in a positive direction with a speed of 200 m/s. The second piece has a mass of 1.00×108 kg and flies off in the opposite direction. What is the velocity of the second piece after the explosion?

(answer in m/s)

Answer 1

here,

assuming
M1 = the mass of the 1st piece
M2 = the mass of the 2nd
V1 = the velocity of the 1st piece after explosion
V2 = the velocity of the 2nd Piece after explosion

From conservation of momentum we have :
before explosion = after explosion
0 = m1v1 - m2v2

v2 = - (M1*V1)/M2
v2 = - ( 6.00*10^8 * 200 ) / ( 10^8 )
v2 = - 200 m/s

where, - sign shows opposite direction