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Rocket Energy
Thrust Force
Maximum Height
Launching the Rockets
 A force called thrust is needed to launch
the rocket.
Thrust Force
 A relationship exists between the rocket
mass and the force needed to move it
(thrust).
Force = mass X acceleration
F = ma
Or
a = F/m
and
m = F/a
Example…
Using the equation
a = F/m
Note: Force is in Newtons
mass must be in Kg
If thrust is 9.5N
and your rocket has a mass of 30 g
(30 g = 0.03Kg)
then,
a = 9.5N/0.03kg
a = 316.7 m/s2
Great! Our rocket will launch.
Will the Rocket Fly?
 If the acceleration, a, is less than gravity
(9.8m/s2), the rocket will not launch.
Think About…
 What effects will the mass of the rocket
have on the height reached by the
rocket?
What could we do to make our rocket
launch?
 Solutions:
use a larger engine or a lighter (mass)
rocket.
Maximum Rocket Height
 There is a relationship
between the maximum
height of the rocket and
the distance between
you and the rocket.
Height = distance X “ratio”
H = d(tanθ)
What is tanθ ?
 This is a simple ratio you calculate with
your scientific calculator when you know
the angle of elevation.
Measuring the angle
 We will use the altimeter to measure the
angle of elevation of our rockets.
Example
Remember…
 Why should the height of the person
holding the tracker be added to the
measurement of the rocket's altitude?