Resources

Modeling Scenario

1-128-RocketFlight-ModelingScenario

Author(s): Brian Winkel

SIMIODE - Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

Keywords: resistance Flight Rocketry mass Newton's Second Law of Motion thrust Free Body Diagram apex rocket

650 total view(s), 215 download(s)

Abstract

Resource Image We offer an opportunity to build a mathematical model using Newton's Second Law of Motion and a Free Body Diagram to analyze the forces acting on the rocket of changing mass in its upward flight under power and then without power followed by its fall to

Citation

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Article Context

Description

Suppose we have a small rocket with a full 100 liter fuel tank. Fuel (with a mass density of 0.98 kg/l) is burned at a steady rate of 3 liters per second and can provide a constant thrust force of 5900 Newtons as it burns. The rocket and fuel tank has a mass of 400 kg with no fuel in it. The shape design of the rocket causes a resistance proportional to its velocity during flight of 2 v(t) where v(t) is in m/s and the constant 2 for proportionality of resistance is 2 N/(m/s). We aim the rocket straight up and launch it . . . 5  . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Launch . . . We have lift off!!!

How long will the rocket burn and hence provide thrust? We call this time interval the burn period.

Build a differential equation model for the powered flight (during the burn period) of the rocket based on all the External Forces and Newton's Second Law of Motion.

Article Files

Authors

Author(s): Brian Winkel

SIMIODE - Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

Comments

Comments

  1. 0 Like

    Hadas Ritz @ on

    This is a great example problem. I used it during lecture today for an example of generating a 1st order model. I mostly worked through the problem myself, but I used some polling questions about what forces to include, which forces were and weren't constant. I also had the students think about and discuss how to find the burn time (some used dimensional analysis, some made a differential equation).

    During class a student pointed out one error: the force sum should equal $$\dot{m}v+m\dot{v}$$ because both mass and velocity are changing with time. I had written just $$m\dot{v}$$, as the posted activity Teacher version also does. The good news is that this doesn't stop it from being a linear equation! (Just a little more complicated.)

    When looking carefully at the posted files, I also discovered a second minor error: because this is a linear drag model, and not a quadratic drag model, you don't actually need a new FBD nor a new model equation during the down-ward velocity portion of the flight. The drag force "automatically" changes direction when the velocity does. 

    Copy link Report abuse

    Your reply
    No attachment

    Your edits
    No attachment