Find the max altitude reached by the rocket

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a physics problem related to a rocket's launch and its subsequent motion after engine failure. The key points include the need to calculate the maximum altitude, total time of flight, and horizontal range of the rocket, with initial parameters provided. Participants emphasize the importance of correctly applying kinematic equations and accounting for the effects of gravity after engine failure. There is confusion regarding the initial velocity components and the correct application of equations, particularly in determining the maximum height. The conversation highlights the necessity of understanding vector components and the transition from powered flight to projectile motion.
hurdler017
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I need help solving a physics problem.
The question is a rocket is launched at an angle of 53o above the horizontal with an initial speed of 100 m/s. It moves for 3 s. along its initial line of motion with an acceleration of 30.0 m/s2. At this time its engines fail and the rocket proceeds to move as a projectile. Find (a) the max altitude reached by the rocket, (b) its total time of flight, and (c) its horizontal range.

The answers in the back of the book have a being 1520, b being 36.1 and c being 4050.
I have tried working on this problem for some time now and I get (a) being 435 so it doesn't allow me to find b and c.
If someone could please help me out I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
 
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At the moment the acceleration is zero (the engine fails),you must compute the velocity and its angle to the coordinate axis and the position wrt the Ox & Oy axis...From the on,it would be simple,really simple.
What forces act on the rocket during the time the engine is running??What about afterwards??

Daniel.
 
I don't understand. Let me tell you what I did. I took 100 m/s and i multiplied it by 3 s. I then took that answer and added it when i took 3, squared that and mulitplied that by 30 and took half of that answer. That came out to be 435. So, to find the max height i used the equation to find the displacement. I don't see what I need to do to get 1520.
 
That's just wrong...Plain wrong...

\vec{r}=\vec{r}_{0}+\vec{v}_{0}t+\frac{1}{2}\vec{a}t^{2}

Use this equation and the geometry of the problem (plus the fact that the acceleration on the first part of the ascending trajectory is not really the one given by the engine) to solve it...

Daniel.
 
what does the Ro stand for? Thanks for the help too. I appreciate it
 
Aaaa,u mean \vec{r}_{0} ...Okay.It's the traditional notation for the position vector at the initial moment of time (chosen by me to be zero)...
Pretty straightforward...

What is the acceleration on the first part of the ascending trajectory??"x"-comp,"y" component...

Daniel.
 
I think for that it would be 79.8 and 60.2. I took the cosine and sine of 53 and multiplied it by 100
 
Okay,those are the values for the initial velocity components.U need the initial values for the acceleration vector components..;

Daniel.
 
ahh ok. 23.6 and 18.05
 
  • #10
Did u forget to drop 9.8m/s^{2}from the initial "y" component??It seems that way...

Daniel.
 
  • #11
yeah, I did thanks. Ok, now i have those numbers I don't understand how I would use those numbers to get the max height.
 
  • #12
Okay,project the vector equation i gave and use the 4 numbers to determine the other 4 numbers (2 for velocity & 2 for coordinate) of the point from where the rocket is in free fall...

Daniel.
 
  • #13
I'm sorry but I don't think I understand. I projected the equation and I don't know what I'm trying to solve and what to plug in. I'm sorry I'm stupid about this stuff
 
  • #14
I found this posted about the same problem I'm working on

I am solving it for a general solution, v be the initial velocity, h be the max. height, a be the acceleration, t be the time during which it accelerated, x is angle of projection.
h1 = vt - 0.5(g-asinx)t^2
(g - asinx) net acceleration in downward direction.
now it already had velocity so it raise further
h2 = [(vf^2)/2g] where vf is the final velocity when power is off.
h = h1 + h2
Total time of flight T,
This one is a shortcut tech. max. height attained h, let the body is droped from heigh h and then solve it for time taken
t1 = (2h/a)^0.5 a is total acceleration.
t1 is the time taken to fall, but under standerd condition time taken to attain the height h willalso be t1
T = 2*t1

I still don't understand what it's talking about but it might be easier for you to explain with these equations or the one you gave me. It doesn't matter either way thanks for doing this
 
  • #15
What are you having problems on?
 
  • #16
I don't understand which equation to use. I was talking to the other guy on here and he was trying to explain it to me but i didnt understand. He gave me some equation above and I don't know how to plug in my numbers into that equation.
 
  • #17
can anyone help me?
 
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