A constant force of 100N , directed upward, is applied to a 5.0kg toy rocket by the rocket's engine.
Find the rockets acceleration?
I thought it'd be as simple as F=ma to be 20 m/s2 but I was wrong. What am I overlooking?
ROCKETS ACCELERATION IS 200 M/S2
200 m/s2 is still incorrect as well.
To find the acceleration of the rocket using the equation F = ma, you're on the right track. However, there seems to be a misconception or overlooked factor in your calculation.
When solving this problem, you need to consider Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the product of its mass and acceleration (F = ma). However, in this scenario, it is important to remember that the force you have given (100N) is the force applied to the rocket by its engine, not the net force acting on the rocket.
To calculate the net force, we need to consider the force of gravity acting on the rocket. The force of gravity is given by the equation F = mg, where m represents the mass of the rocket (5.0 kg) and g represents the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2).
Therefore, the force of gravity acting on the rocket is:
F = (5.0 kg) * (9.8 m/s^2)
F = 49 N
Now, to find the net force acting on the rocket, we need to consider the upward force applied by the rocket's engine (100N) and subtract the force of gravity:
Net force = (force applied by engine) - (force of gravity)
Net force = 100 N - 49 N
Net force = 51 N
Finally, we can use Newton's second law of motion (F = ma) to find the acceleration:
51 N = (5.0 kg) * a
Dividing both sides of the equation by 5.0 kg:
a = (51 N) / (5.0 kg)
a ≈ 10.2 m/s^2
So, the correct acceleration of the rocket is approximately 10.2 m/s^2.