Physics (AS & A Level) · Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Question 9

The space probe Rosetta was designed to investigate a comet. The probe consisted of an orbiter and a lander. The orbiter had a mass of 170 kg and the lander had a mass of 100 kg. When the two parts separated, the lander was pushed towards the surface of the comet so that its change in velocity towards the comet was 3.0 m s⁻¹. Assume that the orbiter and lander were an isolated system. The orbiter moved away from the comet during the separation. What was the change in the speed of the orbiter?

1. A1.8 m s⁻¹
2. B2.3 m s⁻¹
3. C3.0 m s⁻¹
4. D5.1 m s⁻¹

As printed in the paper