Rocket Propulsion

Contents:
Review
Types of Rockets
Examples
Whiteboards

Microsoft Encarta

Rocket Propulsion
So far we have:
Impulse = Ft = mv
F = Force (N)
t = Elapsed time (s)
m = Mass (kg)
v = Change in velocity (m/s)

Rocket Propulsion
So:
F = engine thrust
t = time to burn
fuel
m = mass of fuel
burned
v = exhaust gas
velocity

Ft
=
mv

Which Rocket Accelerates faster?

Demo F14

Rocket Propulsion
If we re-arrange this
formula:
mv = Ft
t
t

Rocket Propulsion
You get
F = mv
t
Where:

F = Engine thrust (N)

m = Fuel burn rate (kg/s)
t
v = Exhaust velocity (m/s)

Rocket Propulsion
Solid Fuel Engine:

Microsoft Encarta

Rocket Propulsion
Solid Fuel Engine:

Thrust of the Engine:

F = mv
t
Big v means big F
Big v also means lots of
pressure
Danger Will Robinson!
Microsoft Encarta

 Estes

Lookout!

m = .5 kg, Ft = 20 Ns
Ft = m v
20 Ns = .5kg v
v = ? (x 2.237 for mph)
Estes

Impulse Area under F vs t graph

100 N

5.0 s

Impulse is area under = (40 N)(6.0s) = 240 Ns

Whiteboards
1|2|3

What is the impulse?

100 N

5.0 s

Average F = 70 N, t = 8.0 s, Impulse = (70 N)(8.0 s) = 560 Ns

560 Ns

What is the impulse?

100 N

5.0 s

Impulse = (40 N)(3.0 s) + (70 N)(5.0 s)= 470 Ns

470 Ns

What is the impulse of the D12 engine?

Impulse = (10. N)(1.73 s-0.11 s) + (28 N-10 N)(0.42 - 0.21) = 19.98 Ns (about 20 Ns)
20 Ns

Rocket Propulsion
Liquid Fuel Engine:

How do you keep it from tipping?

Why the steam coming off?
Microsoft Encarta

Saturn V Rocket - Apollo missions

Escape Tower
Command Module
L.E.M
Third stage
Second stage

First stage

Saturn V Animation (Flash in IE)

Rocket Propulsion
Example 1: A rocket burns fuel at a rate of 1.2
kg/s, with an exhaust velocity of 1250 m/s.
What thrust does it develop?
Ft = mv
v = 1250 m/s
m = 1.2 kg
t = 1 s
(F)(1 s) = (1.2 kg)(1250 m/s), F = 1500 N

Rocket Propulsion
Example 2: A model rocket engine develops 12
N of thrust with an exhaust velocity of 718 m/s.
What is its fuel burn rate?
Ft = mv
F = 12 N
v = 718 m/s
m = ? kg
t = 1 s
(12 N)(1 s) = m(718 m/s), m = .0167 kg
Burn rate = .0167 kg/s

Whiteboards
1|2|3|4|5|6|7

A certain rocket engine burns .

0352 kg of fuel per second with an
exhaust velocity of 725 m/s. What
thrust does it generate?
Ft = mv
F(1 s) = (.0352 kg)(725 m/s),
F = 25.5 N

25.5 N

The Saturn Vs first stage engines

generated 33.82 MN of thrust
(33.82 x 106 N) with an exhaust
velocity of 2254.7 m/s. What was
its fuel burn rate?
Ft = mv
(33.82 x 106 N)(1 s) = m(2254.7 m/s),
m = 15,000 kg
Burn Rate = 15,000 kg/s

15,000 kg/s

A D12 engine generates 11.80 N of

thrust burning fuel at a rate of .
0143 kg/s. What is the exhaust
velocity?
Ft = mv
(11.80 N)(1 s) = (.0143 kg)v,
v = = 825.2 m/s

825.2 m/s

A model rocket has a total mass of 235

grams, 145 grams of which is fuel. The
engine burns the fuel in 2.74 s, with an
exhaust velocity of 890 m/s. What thrust
does the engine generate?
Ft = mv
F(2.74 s) = (.145 kg)(890 m/s),
F = 47.1 N

47.1 N

A model rocket has a total mass of 235

grams, 145 grams of which is fuel. The
engine burns the fuel in 2.74 s, with an
exhaust velocity of 890 m/s. What are the
initial and final rocket masses?

F = 47.1 N

Uh, initial = .235 kg

Final = .235 kg - .145 kg = .090 kg

.235 kg and .090 kg

A model rocket has a total mass of 235

grams, 145 grams of which is fuel. The
engine burns the fuel in 2.74 s, with an
exhaust velocity of 890 m/s. What is the
initial rocket acceleration?

F = 47.1 N
mo = .235 kg, m = .090 kg, <F>=ma (hint)

<47.1 N - (.235 kg)(9.8 m/s )> =

(.235 kg)(a), a=44.8 N/.235 kg=191 m/s2
2

initial = 191 m/s/s

A model rocket has a total mass of 235

grams, 145 grams of which is fuel. The
engine burns the fuel in 2.74 s, with an
exhaust velocity of 890 m/s. What is the
final rocket acceleration?

F = 47.1 N
mo = .235 kg, m = .090 kg, <F>=ma (hint)

<47.1 N - (.090 kg)(9.8 m/s )> =

(.090 kg)(a), a=44.8 N/.090 kg=514 m/s2
2

final = 514 m/s/s