altitude of a rocket mass vs initial speed

• Altitude of a rocket as compared to its mass and

initial speed, in the absence of air resistance.

• Determine which rocket will go the highest. All rockets will be launched vertically from the ground.

• Drawings and speed animations not drawn to an exact scale

• All numbers are given in generic units

• All diagrams on the right will be compared to this same rocket on the left.

Mass = 10

Speed = 10

• Left

• Raise your left hand if you think the diagram on the left will go the highest

• Raise your right hand if you think the diagram on the right will go the highest

•#1

• LeftRight

#1

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 10

Speed = 20

• LeftRight

#1

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 10

Speed = 20

Correct!

•#2

• LeftRight

#2

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 10

Speed = 1

• LeftRight

#2

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 10

Speed = 1

Correct!

•#3

• LeftRight

#3

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 20

Speed = 10

• LeftRight

#3

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 20

Speed = 10

SAME

•#4

• LeftRight

#4

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 100

Speed = 100

• LeftRight

#4

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 100

Speed = 100

Correct!

•#5

• LeftRight

#5

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 1

Speed = 100

• LeftRight

#5

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 1

Speed = 100

Correct!

•#6

• LeftRight

#6

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 5

Speed = 20

• LeftRight

#6

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 5

Speed = 20

Correct!

•#7

• LeftRight

#7

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 100

Speed = 10

• LeftRight

#7

Mass = 10

Speed = 10Mass = 100

Speed = 10

SAME

• So, how can you determine which rocket will go higher by knowing its initial mass and speed, in the absence of air

resistance?

Put these three rockets in order from highest to lowest

• *

A B C

A

• Mass 10

• Speed 10

• B

• Mass 10

• Speed 20

• C

• Mass 20

• Speed 10

• B highest

• A and C are tied

•How would air resistance affect the altitude?