What is the Correct Speed of the Heavier Fragment in a Weather Rocket Explosion?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a weather rocket that explodes after liftoff. The scenario includes a 1500 kg rocket accelerating upward, which breaks into two fragments of differing masses. The problem specifically asks for the speed of the heavier fragment immediately after the explosion, given the height reached by the lighter fragment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the initial velocity of the rocket and the momentum conservation principle. There are attempts to calculate the final velocities of the fragments using kinematic equations and momentum equations. Questions arise regarding significant figures and the accuracy of calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their calculations and questioning the results. Some have provided calculations and are seeking confirmation on the correctness of their significant figures and methods. There is no explicit consensus on the final answer yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating potential issues with significant figures and the accuracy of their calculations. The problem constraints include the mass distribution of the fragments and the height reached by the lighter fragment, which are critical to the discussion.

physicsCU
Messages
198
Reaction score
1
Not sure of the number, but it is about a weather rocket that explodes.

A 1500 kg weather rocket accelerates upward at 10\;{\rm m}/{\rm s}^{2} . It explodes 2.0 s after liftoff and breaks into two fragments, one twice as massive as the other. Photos reveal that the lighter fragment traveled straight up and reached a maximum height of 530 m.

That is the problem.

What was the speed of the heavier fragment just after the explosion?

That is the question.

I solved and got 20.96 m/s. It gives me this error:

You are close. You may have made a rounding error or used the wrong number of significant figures.

Help! What is the right answer?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
How did u get that #...?How many sign.digits are u required to use...?

Daniel.
 
Using the 10m/s^2 * 2s, i got the v_i to be 20 m/s, p_i then is 30000 kg*m/s.

p_f is 1000*v_f_1 + 500*v_f_2

Used v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2*a*s on the smaller mass fragment. Used v_f = 0, a = -9.8, s given in problem. Solved for v_i. This v_i is the inital velocity of the fragment, aka its velocity at the end of the explosion.

Set 30000 = 1000*v_f_1 + 500*v_f_2, using v_f_2 from dynamics equation work above. solved for v_f_1.

EDIT: The system is evaluating my answer as 21.0, so i think my sig figs are right. Unless the server is broken, which could be the case.
 
Anyone have any ideas?
 

Similar threads

Replies
20
Views
8K
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
12K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
13K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
8K