An uncrewed spacecraft of mass 250 kg is tested in three separate manoeuvres. At the start of each manoeuvre, it is moving to the right at the same velocity. It has one set of thrusters that push it to the right and another set that push it to the left. The table shows the thrust from each set during each manoeuvre. No other forces act on the spacecraft along this line.
| Manoeuvre | Thrust to the right / N | Thrust to the left / N |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | 40 |
| 2 | 100 | 40 |
| 3 | 40 | 160 |
Explain the motion of the spacecraft in each manoeuvre.
You should refer to Newton's first law and Newton's second law in your answer.
103 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 2.3 Forces and Newton's laws, covering 2.3.1 Newton's first law, 2.3.2 Newton's second law, and 2.3.3 Weight and gravitational field strength. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.