College

A rocket takes off from a space station, where there is negligible gravity other than that due to the space station, and reaches a speed of 110 m/s in 10.0 seconds. If the exhaust speed is 1,600 m/s and the mass of fuel burned is 118 kg, what was the initial mass (in kg) of the rocket?

Answer :

The initial mass of the rocket was 106 kg.

What is the initial mass of the rocket?

We can use the principle of conservation of momentum to solve this problem.

The momentum of the rocket before takeoff is zero, since it is at rest, and the momentum after takeoff is the product of the mass of the rocket and its velocity.

However, during the takeoff, the rocket ejects a mass of fuel at a certain velocity, which creates a backward force (thrust) that propels the rocket forward.

This thrust can be calculated using the equation:

Thrust = (mass flow rate) x (exhaust velocity)

mass flow rate = (mass of fuel burned) / (burn time)

The mass of the rocket at any given time can be calculated using the equation:

mass = (initial mass) - (mass of fuel burned)

Using these equations, we can solve for the initial mass of the rocket:

Calculate the thrust:

Thrust = (118 kg / 10.0 s) x 1600 m/s = 1,888 N

Calculate the mass of the rocket at the end of the burn:

mass(end) = (initial mass) - (mass of fuel burned) = (initial mass) - 118 kg

Use the principle of conservation of momentum to find the initial mass:

momentum before = momentum after

0 = (mass(end) + 118 kg) x 110 m/s

mass(end) = -118 kg / 110 m/s = -1.07 kg/s

mass(end) = (initial mass) - 118 kg

(initial mass) = mass(end) + 118 kg

(initial mass) = (-1.07 kg/s x 10.0 s) + 118 kg

(initial mass) = 106 kg

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