Question

why did this pod move differently? could these claims be accurate if the pod had a different mass (asteroid samples)? explain to dr. gonzales what would have happened in each claim that would cause the pod to move away from the space station. refer to your modeling tool diagrams, the word bank, and the cause - and - effect words and phrases. word bank: force, exert, mass, velocity, cause, effect. cause - and - effect words and phrases: if ..., then, because, as a result, this led to ..., when, therefore, next. claim 1: firing the thrusters would have caused the pod to move in the opposite direction if ... claim 2: firing the thrusters only slowed the pod, it didnt stop; the pod hit the space station, which made it bounce and move in the opposite

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Claim 1 using Newton's third law

According to Newton's third law, when thrusters exert force.

Step2: Explain the condition for opposite - direction movement in Claim 1

Force from thrusters must overcome opposing forces.

Step3: Analyze Claim 2 using Newton's third law

Impact with space - station exerts a force on the pod.

Step4: Explain the bouncing in Claim 2

Force from station during collision changes pod's direction.

Step5: Consider the effect of mass

Use Newton's second law ($F = ma$) to analyze mass - related changes.

Answer:

For Claim 1:

If the force exerted by the thrusters was greater than any opposing forces (such as residual velocity - related inertia), then firing the thrusters would have caused the pod to move in the opposite direction. Because according to Newton's third - law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the thrusters exert a force on the pod in one direction, the pod will move in the opposite direction as a result.

For Claim 2:

If the force exerted by the thrusters was not sufficient to completely stop the pod, then firing the thrusters only slowed the pod. When the pod hit the space station, due to the impact (a force exerted by the station on the pod), this led to the pod bouncing and moving in the opposite direction. According to Newton's third law, the force of the station on the pod during the collision causes the pod to change its direction. If the mass of the pod was different (due to the presence of asteroid samples), the acceleration (and thus the change in velocity) for a given force from the thrusters would be different according to Newton's second law ($F = ma$). A greater mass would result in a smaller acceleration for the same force, meaning it would be harder to change the pod's motion.