Calculating Area Under a Graph with Units in Gravity-Free Space

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The discussion revolves around calculating the area under a thrust versus position graph for a spaceship in gravity-free space. Participants are trying to determine the area of one grid square and the total area under the curve, given the thrust of 79 kN and the rocket's mass of 11,500 kg. There is confusion about the conversion of thrust from kN to N and the method for calculating the area based on grid squares. Participants suggest converting horizontal grid measurements to meters to facilitate the calculations. The conversation highlights the importance of ensuring correct unit conversions and clarifying the dimensions represented by the graph.
juju1

Homework Statement


[/B]
In gravity-free interstellar space, a spaceship fires its engines to speed up. The total thrust of the engines as a function of position is shown in the graph below. F on the graph represents 79 kN of thrust. The rocket's mass is 11500 kg. Note the units on the graph - kN and km! The rocket's initial velocity is 1650 m/s.

What is the area of one grid square on the graph?

What is the area under the curve?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


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i tried taking 79kN and converting into N, and got 79000. Then I divided by 2 because, if you see in the image that i linked, F=79kN and F takes up 2 grid squares...i got 39500 but that was wrong!
I don't think I can solve how to find area under graph if I can't find what one grid square equals. Also there are 26.5 grid squares in total.
 

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I am not sure what you mean by the statement,
juju1 said:
F takes up 2 grid squares.
. What made you divide by 2? Also, try answering the first question first.
 
If you look at the diagram, F goes up by 2.
So it would make sense to divide by 2, in order to get 1 grid
 
juju1 said:
What is the area of one grid square on the graph?

What is the area under the curve?

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
i tried taking 79kN and converting into N, and got 79000. Then I divided by 2 because, if you see in the image that i linked, F=79kN and F takes up 2 grid squares...i got 39500 but that was wrong!
I don't think I can solve how to find area under graph if I can't find what one grid square equals. Also there are 26.5 grid squares in total.
Convert the horizontal grids to meters.
 
ehild said:
Convert the horizontal grids to meters.
so it would be 395000000? that seems very big...
 
Looks like you have an extra zero. Please make sure of that. Also, what are the units of the area that you calculated? That is the area of one grid square. Now can you find the total area under the curve?
 
Chandra Prayaga said:
Looks like you have an extra zero. Please make sure of that. Also, what are the units of the area that you calculated? That is the area of one grid square. Now can you find the total area under the curve?
104670000?
 
How did you get that number? What are the units?
 

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