# Using Newton's Laws effectively

## Launching rockets

The lift-off of a space shuttle is an example of an unbalanced force in action. The space shuttle accelerates upwards from its launch pad. The thrust from the rocket engines is greater than the weight of the rocket system. Since force is greater than the force , the effect of one force does not cancel that of the other. The forces acting are unbalanced.

The rocket launch is a very good example to look at when considering Newton's First and Second Laws.

When preparing for launch, the rocket is stationary.

If the rocket is stationary then the forces on the rocket are balanced.

Question

What forces are acting on the rocket while waiting for lift-off?

The weight of the rocket acting downwards and the reaction force of the launcher on the rocket keeping it upright and ready to go.

Remember:

(where weight ( ) is in Newtons ( ), mass ( )is in kilograms ( ) and gravitational field strength ( ) is in Newtons per ( )

When the engines are fired, an unbalanced force accelerates the rocket into the sky.

The upward force of the thrust from the rocket engines is greater than the downward weight of the rocket. This results in an unbalanced upward force, causing the rocket to accelerate upwards.

## Example

### Question

If the weight of the rocket is and the thrust of the engines is , what is the unbalanced force accelerating the rocket?

Unbalanced force= (upward)

This unbalanced force accelerates the rocket.

This is where Newton's Second Law is applied.

Newton's Second Law states that

(where unbalanced force is in Newtons ), mass is in kilograms ( ) and acceleration is in metres per second per second ( )

## Example

### Question

If the mass of the rocket above is , what is the acceleration of the rocket at take off?

Remember, from the above question, the unbalanced force (accelerating force) is .