Solving Projectile Paths & Moon Landings: Free Body Diagrams

[narutodemonki]

Homework Statement

1. If an object is shot in a projectile path and its initial and final height is the same what is true.

2. If a rocket vertical is landing on the moon it shoots a bit of the rocket fuel while landing what is the correct Free body diagram.

The Attempt at a Solution

1.Well I know velocity initial and final cannot be the same because it has different directions.
So I would say initial and final speed are the same, and acceleration is constant right?


2. It would be a rocket with a greater downward force than upward force correct?

 

[kuruman]

1.Well I know velocity initial and final cannot be the same because it has different directions.
So I would say initial and final speed are the same, and acceleration is constant right?

Right.

2. It would be a rocket with a greater downward force than upward force correct?

If the downward force is greater than the upward force, in what direction is the acceleration?

 

[narutodemonki]

Right.

If the downward force is greater than the upward force, in what direction is the acceleration?

net force would be down therefore acceleration would also be down so I guess that answer is correct

 

[kuruman]

If the acceleration is down and the velocity is also down because the rocket is landing, does the speed increase or decrease?

 

[rwisz]

I would like to provide a more comprehensive response to these questions.

1. If an object is shot in a projectile path and its initial and final height is the same, it means that the object has undergone a symmetrical trajectory. This means that the object has reached the same height at some point during its flight as it did at the beginning, and then returned to the same height at the end of its flight. This can only occur if the initial and final speed are the same and the object experiences a constant acceleration. This is because the object must travel the same distance in the same amount of time in both the upward and downward portions of its trajectory.

2. When a rocket is landing on the moon, it is important to consider all the forces acting on the rocket. These include the force of gravity pulling the rocket towards the moon, the force of the rocket's engines pushing it upwards, and the force of the rocket's fuel being ejected downwards. The correct free body diagram for this scenario would include all these forces, with the downward force of the rocket's fuel being greater than the upward force of the rocket's engines in order to slow down the rocket's descent and allow for a controlled landing. It is also important to consider the direction of these forces and how they may change as the rocket gets closer to the moon's surface.