Read the assertion and reason carefully to mark the correct option ou...
We know that earth revolves from west to east about its polar axis. Therefore, all the particles on the earth have velocity from west to east. This velocity is maximum in the equatorial line, as v=Rω, where R is the radius of earth and w is the angular velocity of revolution of earth about its polar axis. When a rocket is launched from west to east in equatorial plane, the maximum linear velocity is added to the launching velocity of the rocket, due to which launching becomes easier.
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Read the assertion and reason carefully to mark the correct option ou...
Assertion: Space rockets are usually launched in the equatorial line from west to east.
Reason: The acceleration due to gravity is minimum at the equator.
Explanation:
The given assertion states that space rockets are usually launched in the equatorial line from west to east. The reason provided for this is that the acceleration due to gravity is minimum at the equator. Let's analyze this assertion and reason in detail.
Acceleration due to gravity:
The acceleration due to gravity is the force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth. It is responsible for keeping objects on the surface of the Earth and affects the motion of all objects.
Effect of gravity on rockets:
When a rocket is launched, it needs to overcome the force of gravity to reach space. The gravitational force decreases with increasing distance from the Earth's surface. Therefore, launching a rocket from a location with lower gravity can provide a slight advantage in terms of fuel efficiency and payload capacity.
Effect of latitude on gravity:
The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but rather an oblate spheroid. This means that the equatorial region is slightly farther away from the center of the Earth compared to the polar regions. As a result, the acceleration due to gravity is slightly lower at the equator compared to the poles.
Launch from the equator:
Launching rockets from the equator provides a small advantage due to the lower acceleration due to gravity. This allows rockets to carry slightly more payload or use less fuel for the same mission compared to launching from higher latitudes. Additionally, launching from the equator also takes advantage of the Earth's rotation. The rotational speed is highest at the equator, and launching in the direction of the Earth's rotation (west to east) can provide an additional speed boost to the rocket.
Conclusion:
Based on the above explanation, it can be concluded that both the assertion and reason are true. However, the reason alone is not a complete explanation for the assertion. The advantage of launching rockets from the equator is not solely due to the minimum acceleration due to gravity but also the additional speed boost from the Earth's rotation. Therefore, the correct option is (b) if both assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
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