Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

A rocket rises into space

The XPQ-38 rocket has a mass of M = 40 tonnes. The engines at its base push upwards with a force F (called "thrust" in rocketry jargon).

In order for the rocket to reach a height H = 3 km within 30 seconds after launch, how large must the thrust be?

   force        x            y
  --------------------------------
           |          |         
           |          |         
           |          |         
           |          |         
           |          |         
           |          |         
           |          |         
           |          |         
  --------------------------------
   total   |          |
  --------------------------------


                x           y
  --------------------------------
   accel   |          |
           |          |
  --------------------------------
  

Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.