Question

The Apollo spacecrafts were launched toward the moon using the Saturn rocket, the most powerful rocket available. Each rocket had five engines producing a total of 3.34 x 10 to the 7thX of force to launch the 2.77 x 10 to the 6 kg spacecraft toward the moon. (a) I need to find the average acceleration of the spacecraft. (b) Than calculate the altitiude of the rocket 2.50 minutes after launch-the point when the spacecraft loses its first stage.

Answer 1

a. a=F/m = 3.34*10^7/2.77*10^6 = 12.06 m/s^2.

b. t = 2.5min * 60s/min = 150 s.

h = 0.5a(2t-1)
h = 6.03*(300-1) = 1803 m.