Two-Stage
Rocket
A GIF Animation
Observe the motion of the two-stage rocket and the
corresponding velocity-time graph below. The rocket has two
consecutive fuel stages followed by a free-fall motion (no fuel). In
the two fuel stages, the rocket experiences an upward acceleration of
+10 m/s/s and +4.29 m/s/s respectively. This acceleration is depicted
by the slope on the velocity-time graph. After ten seconds, the
second fuel stage ends and the rocket is acted upon only by the force
of gravity. It subsequently experiences a downward acceleration of
-10 m/s/s. Note however, that from 10 to 16 seconds, the rocket
continues moving upward (the velocity values are positive). During
these six seconds, the rocket is moving upward but slowing down (the
acceleration is downwards or negative as denoted by the
negatively-sloped line). It is not until after t=16 seconds that the
rocket begins to move downwards.
For more information on physical descriptions of motion,
visit
The
Physics Classroom. Specific information is available there on the
following topics:
This page was created by
Tom
Henderson of
Glenbrook South
High School.
Comments and suggestions can be sent by e-mail to
Tom
Henderson.
A hearty thanks is due to lab assistant Amit Patel for his
assistance with the graphics and GIF animation.
This page last updated on 2/24/97.