Rocket Lab @ Angles: Predicting Distance of Launch

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around predicting the landing distance of a rocket based on its launch angle, initial velocity, and height. The original poster is working with angles ranging from 35 to 60 degrees and has conducted trials that yielded distances between 20 to 40 meters, which differ from their calculated predictions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of various equations related to projectile motion, including components of velocity and time of flight. There is questioning of the accuracy of the average velocity used and whether it affects the predicted distance. Some suggest considering a different range equation that accounts for launch height.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their calculations and comparing them to experimental results. There is an exploration of different equations and their applicability to the problem, but no consensus has been reached regarding the accuracy of the initial velocity or the best approach to predict the landing distance.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the rocket's burn time and acceleration may not be adequately accounted for in their calculations, which could impact the predicted distances. There is also a reference to previous lab results for comparison.

Hellsing834
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Homework Statement



I need to predict how far a rocket will land given:

Delta Y = 2.032 (80 in ) - Height it will be shot from.
Angle - 35 (degrees)
My Average velocity is 23.3 m/s.

I need to repeat this for angles 40-60 [Increments of 5]


Homework Equations



I have these equations that i am using.

Vy = V(average) x sin (theta)
Vx = V(average) x cos (theta)
X = V(average) x cos (theta) * Time
T = (2*V(average))/ g


The Attempt at a Solution



For the first scenario i did the calculations and i am getting 55.3 m, but i know that is not right because we shot the rockets today, and mine did not even go past 40m. I did 3 trials, and each time it was between 20-40 m.
 
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Hellsing834 said:

Homework Statement



I need to predict how far a rocket will land given:

Delta Y = 2.032 (80 in ) - Height it will be shot from.
Angle - 35 (degrees)
My Average velocity is 23.3 m/s.

I need to repeat this for angles 40-60 [Increments of 5]


Homework Equations



I have these equations that i am using.

Vy = V(average) x sin (theta)
Vx = V(average) x cos (theta)
X = V(average) x cos (theta) * Time
T = (2*V(average))/ g


The Attempt at a Solution



For the first scenario i did the calculations and i am getting 55.3 m, but i know that is not right because we shot the rockets today, and mine did not even go past 40m. I did 3 trials, and each time it was between 20-40 m.

Maybe the 23m/s is not accurate?
 
I believe that it is accurate because i compared these results with the same lab we did last year, and the answer is close.
 
Hellsing834 said:
I believe that it is accurate because i compared these results with the same lab we did last year, and the answer is close.

Perhaps you would do better to use a range equation that was more of the form:

Range = \frac{V_o^2*Sin2\theta}{g}

This of course does not take into account the height you launch it from.
 
See, even with that equation, my answers comes in the 50's like my original.
 
Hellsing834 said:
See, even with that equation, my answers comes in the 50's like my original.

Unfortunately it doesn't take into account how long the rocket burns. Since it is a rocket it will accelerate over a distance that may be greater than 2m.
 

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