Question

A bottle rocket is shot straight up in the air with a speed 30m/s. If the air resistance is ignored, the bottle would go up to a height of approximately 46m. However, the rocket goes up to only 35m before returning to the ground. What happened? Explain, giving only a qualitative response.

a) Air resistance caused a decrease in potential energy.
b) The rocket experienced a loss of kinetic energy.
c) The initial speed was less than 30m/s.
d) Air resistance caused a decrease in kinetic energy.

Answer 1

The bottle rocket reached a lower maximum height than expected due to air resistance, which caused a decrease in kinetic energy as the rocket ascended.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a bottle rocket is shot straight up in the air with a speed of 30 m/s and only reaches a height of 35 m instead of the expected 46 m, without any air resistance, it indicates that the rocket has encountered air resistance. The correct explanation for the reduced maximum height is that air resistance caused a decrease in kinetic energy during the ascent. As the rocket moves upward, air resistance does work against the motion, which removes energy from the system. This loss in energy due to air resistance translates into a lower kinetic energy of the rocket as it climbs, resulting in a reduced height achieved. The initial potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as the rocket ascends, but with air resistance acting on the rocket, some of this kinetic energy is dissipated, preventing the rocket from reaching the height it would achieve in a vacuum or without air resistance.