a satellite was in two separate crashes. in both crashes, the satellite had the same mass. engineers want to know about the speed and direction of the satellite after the crashes. why would the crash affect the motion of the satellite, and which crash caused a greater change in motion for the satellite?

A crash affects the motion of a satellite because it involves an external force acting on the satellite, changing its momentum, which affects both its speed and direction. According to Newton's laws of motion, specifically the third law, the force exerted during a crash results in an equal and opposite reaction that alters the satellite's velocity vector. The change in motion depends on the magnitude and duration of the force applied during each crash, collectively known as impulse (change in momentum = force × time). Therefore, the crash that exerts a greater force or acts over a longer time will cause a greater change in the satellite's motion. If the satellite has the same mass in both crashes, the crash that involved a larger force or a longer contact duration would cause a greater change in speed and direction, resulting in a more significant change in momentum and therefore greater change in motion for the satellite.