Question

a 5.00 × 105 kg rocket is accelerating straight up. Its engines produce 1.50 × 107 of thrust, and air resistance is 4.50 × 106 N. What is the rocket’s acceleration?

Answer 1

This one is simple :)

use the equation F = ma and then re-arrange for a.

a = F / m

But there is a trick, so be careful. the question gives you wind resistance. Simply subtract the wind resistance from the thrust of the rocket to get the net force upward.

$1.50 * 10^7N - 4.5 8 10^6N = 1.05 * 10^7N$

So,

$a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{1.05*10^7N}{5.00*10^5kg}$