When a rocket is fired upwards, what forces act on it immediately afte...
The thrust from the rocket engines and gravity act on the rocket, illustrating the forces involved in launching a rocket.
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When a rocket is fired upwards, what forces act on it immediately afte...
The two forces acting on the rocket immediately after leaving the launching pad are gravitational force and frictional force. The gravitational force acts downwards towards the earth and frictional force acts due to surrounding air.
When a rocket is fired upwards, what forces act on it immediately afte...
Forces Acting on a Rocket Immediately After Leaving the Launch Pad:
Gravity:
- Gravity is the force that pulls the rocket downwards towards the Earth.
- As soon as the rocket leaves the launch pad, it is still within the Earth's gravitational field, so gravity continues to act on it.
Thrust:
- Thrust is the force that propels the rocket upwards.
- When the rocket is fired upwards, the engines generate thrust that pushes the rocket in the opposite direction.
- This thrust overcomes the force of gravity, allowing the rocket to ascend into the sky.
Explanation:
- Immediately after leaving the launch pad, the rocket experiences both gravity pulling it down and thrust propelling it upwards.
- Gravity tries to pull the rocket back towards the Earth, while thrust pushes it in the opposite direction, enabling the rocket to ascend.
- These two forces, gravity and thrust, act in opposite directions, with thrust overcoming gravity to lift the rocket off the ground.
- As the rocket continues its flight, other forces such as air resistance and wind may also come into play, but initially, gravity and thrust are the primary forces at work.