Question

If the first stage provides a thrust of 5.31 ​mega-newtons [MN] and the space shuttle has a mass of 5,760,000 ​pound-mass ​[lbm​], what is the acceleration of the spacecraft in miles per hour squared ​[mi/h2​]?

Answer 1

The acceleration of the spacecraft is 16,367.62 miles/hr²

Step-by-step explanation:

Given;

thrust of the spacecraft, F = 5.31 x 10⁶ N

mass of the spacecraft, m = 5,760,000 lbm = 2612692.051 kg

The acceleration of the spacecraft in m/s² is given by Newton's second law of motion;

F = ma

a = F / m

`a = (5.31*10^6 \ N)/(2612692.051 \ kg)\\\\a = 2.0324 \ m/s^2`

The acceleration in miles per hour square is given by;

`a =2.0324 (m)/(s^2) *(0.0006214 \ mile)/(m)*((3600 \ s)/(1 \ hour))^2\\\\ a =2.0324 (m)/(s^2) *(0.0006214 \ mile)/(m)*(12960000 \ s^2)/(1 \ hour^2)\\\\a = 16,367.62 \ miles/hr^2`

Therefore, the acceleration of the spacecraft is 16,367.62 miles/hr²