Physics on the move

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Question 13
Medium

An aerospace engineering team is designing landing capsules for a planetary exploration mission. The capsules must safeguard a sensitive scientific payload upon landing on a rocky surface. Both Capsule X and Capsule Y have the same mass and touch down with a vertical velocity of 15 m/s15\text{ m/s}15 m/s.

During touchdown:

  • Capsule X is designed with deformable landing struts that crumple on impact, allowing the payload compartment to travel a further distance of 0.9 m0.9\text{ m}0.9 m before coming to a complete stop.
  • Capsule Y is constructed with rigid landing legs, meaning its payload compartment travels a distance of only 0.09 m0.09\text{ m}0.09 m after touchdown.

Explain why Capsule X is safer for the scientific payload than Capsule Y. In your answer, calculate the average deceleration of the payload compartment in both capsules during impact and use these values to support your explanation.

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