What is the net force acting on the rocket?

A rocket is flying straight up y+ at constant velocity. The rocket’s upward force is 4×10^5N, and its mass is 1×10^6kg. Using Newton’s 2nd Law, what is the net force acting on the rocket?

Answer:

Despite the presence of the rocket’s thrust and gravity, the net force acting on a rocket moving upward at a constant velocity is 0 N, as these opposing forces cancel each other out according to Newton’s Second Law of Motion.

Explanation:

The student’s question concerns Newton’s Second Law of Motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration (F = ma). Given that a rocket is moving upward at a constant velocity, this implies that the rocket’s acceleration is zero (a constant velocity indicates no change in speed or direction).

Therefore, Newton’s Second Law becomes F= m * 0, simplified to F = 0. This means that the net force acting on the rocket must be zero (0 N), despite the rocket’s apparent upward force. This is due to the opposite forces—gravity and the rocket’s thrust—being equal and canceling each other out, resulting in the net force of zero.

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