15. It would take approximately 4.93 x 1032 J of work to pulverize an Earth-like planet into small pieces with enough energy left over to eventually spread that debris into an asteroid field roughly ten times the size of the original planet. The infamous "Death Star" from the Star Wars documentary series is purported to have done just such a thing to the planet Alderaan, allegedly taking about 2.24 seconds to accomplish this dastardly deed. (i) Calculate the power output of the Death Star's primary weapon. (For perspective, the power output of our Sun is about 4 x 1026 (four hundred septillion) watts.) (ii) The momentum of the Death Star's killer light-beam is 1.6446 x 1024 kg m/s. Assuming the mass of the Death Star is 2.1928 x 1019 kg, find the speed at which the Death Star recoils after firing its primary weapon. (iii) Find the Death Star's average acceleration as it recoils. (Hint: there are at least two easy ways to do this, using what we have found or been given so far.) How does this compare with Earth's gravitational acceleration? Should Lord Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, and all the Imperial troopers and officers buckle up?

15. It would take approximately 4.93 x 1032 J of work to pulverize an Earth-like planet into small pieces with enough energy left over to eventually spread that debris into an asteroid field roughly ten times the size of the original planet. The infamous "Death Star" from the Star Wars documentary series is purported to have done just such a thing to the planet Alderaan, allegedly taking about 2.24 seconds to accomplish this dastardly deed. (i) Calculate the power output of the Death Star's primary weapon. (For perspective, the power output of our Sun is about 4 x 1026 (four hundred septillion) watts.) (ii) The momentum of the Death Star's killer light-beam is 1.6446 x 1024 kg m/s. Assuming the mass of the Death Star is 2.1928 x 1019 kg, find the speed at which the Death Star recoils after firing its primary weapon. (iii) Find the Death Star's average acceleration as it recoils. (Hint: there are at least two easy ways to do this, using what we have found or been given so far.) How does this compare with Earth's gravitational acceleration? Should Lord Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, and all the Imperial troopers and officers buckle up?