Maximum Acceleration for Moon Launch

In summary, Jules Verne proposed sending men to the Moon in 1865 by firing a space capsule from a 220 m long cannon with a final velocity of 10.78 km/s. To calculate the unrealistically large acceleration experienced by the space travelers during launch, the equation v^2 = 1/2(a)(220) is used. However, this equation is incorrect. The correct equation is v^2 = 110a, where a is the acceleration, and v is the final velocity. This can be further simplified to a = v^2/110. To express a as a multiple of g, it can be divided by the acceleration due to gravity, resulting in a/g = v^2/(110
  • #1
Kildars
95
0
In 1865, Jules Verne proposed sending men to the Moon by firing a space capsule from a 220 m long cannon with final velocity of 10.78 km/s. What would have been the unrealistically large acceleration experienced by the space travelers during launch?

The answer needs to be in

Number times g.
g = 9.81

I tried v^2 = 1/2(a)(220)
So v^2 = 110
Square root of 110 = 10.48..
Not correct..

Don't know what to do.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Kildars said:
I tried v^2 = 1/2(a)(220)
So v^2 = 110
Square root of 110 = 10.48..
Not correct..

Don't know what to do.
Don't throw away the (a) going from the first to the second line, and use the given information to calculate v^2. Then solve for (a) and express as a fraction of g. Also, check your first equation. It is not correct.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
OlderDan said:
Don't throw away the (a) going from the first to the second line, and use the given information to calculate v^2. Then solve for (a) and express as a fraction of g. Also, check your first equation. It is not correct.


Right so 10,780^2 is the final velocity since the first one is in k/m?

10,780^2 = 1/2(a)(220)
10,780^2 = 110a
A = 1056440
Divided by 9.81..

107690.1121

Still incorrect.
 
  • #4
Kildars said:
Still incorrect.
Perhaps because your equation is still incorrect, and you have not expressed a as a multiple of g.
 
  • #5
OlderDan said:
Perhaps because your equation is still incorrect, and you have not expressed a as a multiple of g.

Can I not just divide the acceleration by g at the end and get the same answer?
 
  • #6
bump..due in an hour 20 minutes ;)
 
  • #7
Nevermind, got this one.
 

What is acceleration?

Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It can be described as the change in velocity divided by the change in time.

How is acceleration calculated?

Acceleration is calculated by dividing the change in an object's velocity by the change in time. The formula for acceleration is a = (vf - vi) / t, where a is acceleration, vf is final velocity, vi is initial velocity, and t is time.

What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?

Velocity is a vector quantity that describes the rate and direction of an object's motion, while acceleration is a vector quantity that describes the rate of change of an object's velocity. In simpler terms, velocity tells us how fast an object is going and in what direction, while acceleration tells us how much an object's speed or direction is changing.

What are some examples of acceleration?

Examples of acceleration include a car speeding up, a ball falling towards the ground, a rocket launching into space, and a skateboarder going down a ramp. Any time an object changes its speed or direction, it is experiencing acceleration.

How is acceleration related to Newton's laws of motion?

Acceleration is related to Newton's laws of motion, specifically the second law which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. In other words, the greater the force on an object, the greater its acceleration will be. This law helps us understand how objects accelerate in response to forces acting upon them.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
7K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
6K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
8K
Back
Top