What is the equation for rocket thrust?
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Weight is the force due to gravity and is calculated (at the Earth’s surface) by multiplying the mass (kilograms) by 9.8. The resultant force on each rocket is calculated using the equation resultant force = thrust – weight.
How fast could a nuclear rocket travel to Mars?
Six months faster than conventional rockets, says NASA.
What are the three factors of rocket thrust?
The amount of thrust produced by the rocket depends on the mass flow rate through the engine, the exit velocity of the exhaust, and the pressure at the nozzle exit. All of these variables depend on the design of the nozzle. The smallest cross-sectional area of the nozzle is called the throat of the nozzle.
How fast could a nuclear rocket travel in space?
A solid-core nuclear-thermal rocket will have a maximum Ve of about 8 km/s (5 miles per second). The rocket equation also says that higher values of ∆V are possible when the fuel comprises a larger fraction of the rocket’s total initial weight.
What is rocket thrust?
Thrust is the force which moves the rocket through the air, and through space. Thrust is generated by the propulsion system of the rocket through the application of Newton’s third law of motion; For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.
How does Newton’s third law apply to a rocket?
Launching a rocket relies on Newton’s Third Law of Motion. A rocket engine produces thrust through action and reaction. The engine produces hot exhaust gases which flow out of the back of the engine. In reaction, a thrusting force is produced in the opposite reaction.
Why are there no nuclear spaceships?
One big issue with nuclear power in space is that you need to discard the heat somehow, which for RTGs you can only do by radiating the heat. You end up having heat-radiating panels in place of solar panels, with substantially lower energy output per kilogram than solar panels, unless you are very far from Sun.
How fast is a plasma rocket?
Plasma rockets accelerate gradually and can reach a maximum speed of 34 miles (55 kilometers) per second over 23 days, which is four times faster than any chemical rocket [source: Verhovek].
Can a rocket go faster than its exhaust speed explain?
Yes, the rocket speed can exceed the exhaust speed of the gases it ejects. The thrust of the rocket does not depend on the relative speeds of the gases and rocket, it simply depends on conservation of momentum.
How is thrust created in space?
As the exhaust gases go in one direction, the rocket goes in the other to keep the total momentum of the system constant. This momentum change of the gases gives the rocket the “push” to go forward. We call this push, the thrust of the rocket, i.e. the force exerted on the rocket.
What does the thrust curve tell us?
For illustration purposes, here is the thrust curve of an AeroTech G80 (original graph from the NAR data sheet). Total impulse is the product of thrust times duration over the motor burn time, and is measured in Newton-seconds (Ns). This measures the total amount of momentum imparted to the rocket by the motor.
What is maximum thrust in a rocket?
Maximum thrust is the maximum amount of force produced by the motor during its burn. Like average thrust, this is measured in Newtons (N). Generally, there is a small spike near the beginning which has the highest thrust, although the shape of the curve varies with the motor design and propellant mixture.
How is the thrust of a rocket determined?
But on some rockets, the exhaust nozzle and the thrust direction can be rotated, or gimbaled . The rocket can then be maneuvered by using the torque about the center of gravity. The magnitude of the thrust can be determined by the general thrust equation .
What is a nuclear thermal propulsion rocket?
Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) systems aren’t new, but they could significantly reduce travel times and carry greater payloads than today’s top chemical rockets — giving humans a great chance of exploring deep space. Here are 6 things you should know about nuclear thermal propulsion. How Does a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Rocket Work?