Chapter 6, Problem 39A

A rocket becomes progressively easier to accelerate as it travels through outer space. Why is this so? (Hint: About 90 percent of the mass of a newly launched rocket is fuel.)

To determine

To Explain:A rocket becomes progressively easier to accelerate as it travels through outer space.

Answer to Problem 39A

Due to Newton’s second law of motion, the acceleration increases as mass decreases. Hence, the rocket becomes progressively easier to accelerate as it travels through the space.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

According to the Newton’s second law of motion:

  $F=ma$

From this expression, the acceleration can be given by:

  $a=\frac{F}{m}$

Hence, it can be concluded from the above formula that acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass of the body.

  $a\propto \frac{1}{m}$

As the rocket travels, the fuel becomes lesser which results in lesser mass and hence lesser mass will lead to greater acceleration. That is why a rocket becomes progressively easier to accelerate as it travels through the space.

Conclusion:

Due to Newton’s second law of motion, the acceleration increases as mass decreases. Hence the rocket becomes progressively easier to accelerate as it travels through the space.