Question

What fraction of a rocket's mass must be destroyed to reach a low Earth orbit?

- (A) ( 2.45 × 10⁻¹¹ )
- (B) ( 2.50 × 10⁻¹¹ )
- (C) ( 2.55 × 10⁻¹¹ )
- (D) ( 2.60 × 10⁻¹¹ )

Answer 1

To calculate the fraction of a rocket's mass that must be destroyed to reach a low Earth orbit, we need to consider both the kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the fraction of a rocket's mass that must be destroyed to reach a low Earth orbit, we need to consider both the kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy needed.

The kinetic energy is given by the formula:

KE = (1/2)mv²

where m is the mass of the rocket and v is its velocity.

The gravitational potential energy is given by:

PE = mgh

where m is the mass of the rocket, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the orbit.

By using these formulas and the given orbital altitude of 250 km, we can calculate the fraction of the rocket's mass that must be destroyed.