What maximum altitude does the rocket reach

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SUMMARY

The rocket reaches a maximum altitude of approximately 1591.837 meters after burning fuel at an initial acceleration of 3.2 m/s² until it runs out of fuel at 1200 meters. The velocity at fuel burnout is approximately 87.636 m/s, taking about 27.386 seconds to reach this point. After fuel depletion, the rocket ascends an additional 391.837 meters before reaching its peak altitude, which takes an additional 8.942 seconds. The total time the rocket remains in the air is approximately 54.406 seconds, assuming constant acceleration and no air resistance.

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A rocket rises vertically, from rest with an acceleration of 3.2 m/s until it runs out of fuel at an altitude of 1200 m. After this point, its acceleration is that of gravity, downward. (a) what is the velocity when it runs out of fuel.(b) How long does it take to reach this point. (c) what maximum altitude does the rocket reach.(d) how much time does it take to reach maximum altitude. (e) With what velocity does it reach the earth. How long (total) is it in the air

Thank You for you help
 
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this is my first post on this forum, so hello everyone :smile:

i take it you mean that the acceleration is constant until the fuel is burnt out.

assuming acceleration is constant, we know that up to the point of fuel burn out:

initial velocity u = 0m/s
acceleration a = 3.2m/s
displacement d = 1200m

start by answering part (b):

since acceleration is constant we can apply the equation:

d = ut + 1/2at^2

where t = time taken to reach 1200m. substitute the above values into give an equation in t:

1200 = 0t + 1/2(3.2)t^2
1200 = 1.6t^2

rearange to get t:

t = √1200/1.6)
t = √750
t ≈ 27.386s

now do part (a):

a is constant so we can use:

v = u + at

where v is the velocity at 1200m. substitute in above values:

v = 0 + 3.2√750
v ≈ 87.636m/s

part (c)

consider the flight of the rocket after it runs out of fuel. we know:

acceleration a ≈ -9.8m/s/s
initial velocity u = 3.2√750m/s
velocity at maximum altitude v= 0m/s

constant acceleration (assuming no air resistance) so use:

v^2 = u^2 + 2ad

where d is the displacement of the rocket after it runs out of fuel. substitute in values and solve for d:

0^2 = (3.2√750)^2 + 2(-9.8)d
d = (0 - (3.2√750)^2)/2(-9.8)
d = (-(3.2√750)^2)/-19.6
d = (-10.24(750))/-19.6
d ≈ 391.837m

add this displacement to the altitude of the rocket when its fuel ran out:

maximum altitude = 1200 + 391.837 = 1591.837m

part (d)

consider the flight of the rocket after it runs out of fuel. we know:

a ≈ -9.8m/s/s
u = 3.2√750m/s
v = 0m/s

use equation:

v = u + at

0 = 3.2√750 + (-9.8)t
t = (-3.2√750)/-9.8
t ≈ 8.942s

add this to the time taken to run out of fuel:

time taken to reach max altitude = 27.386 + 8.492 = 36.382s

part (e)

u = 0m/s
a ≈ 9.8m/s/s
d = 1591.837m
v = velocity at 0 altitude.

v^2 = u^2 + 2ad
v = √(u^2 + 2ad)
v = √31200.005
v ≈ 176.635m/s

total time in the air = 36.382 + 176.635/9.8 ≈ 54.406s

all of these calculations assume constant acceleration and zero air resistance.
 
I do not have a good working knowledge of physics yet. I tried to piece this together but after researching this, I couldn’t figure out the correct laws of physics to combine to develop a formula to answer this question. Ex. 1 - A moving object impacts a static object at a constant velocity. Ex. 2 - A moving object impacts a static object at the same velocity but is accelerating at the moment of impact. Assuming the mass of the objects is the same and the velocity at the moment of impact...

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