question_answer

A rocket explodes in mid air. How does this affect (a) its total momentum and (b) its total kinetic energy?

Answer:

                (a) Because no external force acts on the rocket, its total momentum remains unchanged. (b) When the rocket explodes, its fragments receive additional kinetic energy from the explosion. The chemical energy of the fuel changes into kinetic energy. As a result of this, the total kinetic energy gets increased.