Altitude of a rocket mass vs initial speed

1. • Altitude of a rocket as
compared to its mass and
initial speed, in the absence of
air resistance.

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

3. • Drawings and speed animations
not drawn to an exact scale
• All numbers are given in generic
units

4. • All diagrams on the right will be compared
to this same rocket on the left.
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
• Left

5. • 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

6. •#1

7. • Left
Right
#1
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 10
Speed = 20

8. • Left
Right
#1
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 10
Speed = 20
Correct!

9. •#2

10. • Left
Right
#2
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 10
Speed = 1

11. • Left
Right
#2
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 10
Speed = 1
Correct!

12. •#3

13. • Left
Right
#3
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 20
Speed = 10

14. • Left
Right
#3
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 20
Speed = 10
SAME

15. •#4

16. • Left
Right
#4
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 100
Speed = 100

17. • Left
Right
#4
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 100
Speed = 100
Correct!

18. •#5

19. • Left
Right
#5
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 1
Speed = 100

20. • Left
Right
#5
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 1
Speed = 100
Correct!

21. •#6

22. • Left
Right
#6
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 5
Speed = 20

23. • Left
Right
#6
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 5
Speed = 20
Correct!

24. •#7

25. • Left
Right
#7
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 100
Speed = 10

26. • Left
Right
#7
Mass = 10
Speed = 10
Mass = 100
Speed = 10
SAME

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

28. 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

29. •How would air
resistance affect the
altitude?