By using the resultant force and mass, the acceleration of a rocket can be calculated. The two forces act on rockets at the moment of launch - thrust upwards and the weight downwards. Weight is the force due to gravity and is calculated (at the Earth’s surface) by multiplying the mass (kilograms) by 9.8. The resultant force on each rocket is calculated using the equation Resultant force = Thrust – Weight. Acceleration is a measure of how much speed increases each second and is calculated using the equation Acceleration = Resultant force (newtons, N) divided by Mass (kilograms, kg). Example: If a model rocket’s mass is 50 grams and its rocket engine produces a thrust of 5N for 1 second; find the weight (50 g) change it to kilograms by dividing by 1000; giving a mass of 0.050 kg. Weight is mass (in kg) x 9.8, which gives 0.050 x 9.8 = 0.49N. The resultant force is the Thrust – Weight = 5N – 0.49 = 4.51N (unrounded). Acceleration= Resultant Force divided by Mass= 4.51 ÷ 0.050 = 90 m/sec. squared (90 m/s2). This means that, every second, the speed of the rocket increases by 90 m/s. This is 9x the normal acceleration due to gravity. The Space Shuttle mission STS-133 launched on February 24, 2011 with a lift-off mass of 2 million kilograms (2000 tons). STS-133’s total weight at lift-off was 2 million x 9.8, which is approximately 20 million newtons (20 mega newtons). The Space Shuttle had two solid rocket boosters to produce thrust, as well as three main engines at the tail of the orbiter (Slide 16). The thrust of each solid rocket boosters was 12.5 million newtons, and the three main engines had a combined thrust of 5.5 million newtons. This gives a massive total thrust of 30.5 million newtons. Calculate the Resultant Force and Acceleration at launch for STS-133. Resultant Force = thrust – weight = (newtons) Acceleration = Resultant Force ÷ Mass = (m/s2)
By using the resultant force and mass, the acceleration of a rocket can be calculated.
The two forces act on rockets at the moment of launch - thrust upwards and the weight
downwards. Weight is the force due to gravity and is calculated (at the Earth’s surface) by
multiplying the mass (kilograms) by 9.8. The resultant force on each rocket is calculated using
the equation Resultant force = Thrust – Weight.
Acceleration is a measure of how much speed increases each second and is calculated using
the equation Acceleration = Resultant force (newtons, N) divided by Mass (kilograms, kg).
Example: If a model rocket’s mass is 50 grams and its rocket engine produces a thrust of 5N
for 1 second; find the weight (50 g) change it to kilograms by dividing by 1000; giving a mass
of 0.050 kg. Weight is mass (in kg) x 9.8, which gives 0.050 x 9.8 = 0.49N.
The resultant force is the Thrust – Weight = 5N – 0.49 = 4.51N (unrounded).
Acceleration= Resultant Force divided by Mass= 4.51 ÷ 0.050 = 90 m/sec. squared (90 m/s2).
This means that, every second, the speed of the rocket increases by 90 m/s.
This is 9x the normal acceleration due to gravity.
The Space Shuttle mission STS-133 launched on February 24, 2011 with a lift-off mass of
2 million kilograms (2000 tons). STS-133’s total weight at lift-off was 2 million x 9.8,
which is approximately 20 million newtons (20 mega newtons).
The Space Shuttle had two solid rocket boosters to produce thrust, as well as three main
engines at the tail of the orbiter (Slide 16).
The thrust of each solid rocket boosters was 12.5 million newtons, and the three main
engines had a combined thrust of 5.5 million newtons. This gives a massive total thrust of
30.5 million newtons.
Calculate the Resultant Force and Acceleration at launch for STS-133.
Resultant Force = thrust – weight = (newtons)
Acceleration = Resultant Force ÷ Mass = (m/s2)
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps with 1 images
