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

Answer:

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

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

$a = \frac{5.31*10^6 \ N}{2612692.051 \ kg}\\\\a = 2.0324 \ m/s^2$

The acceleration in miles per hour square is given by;

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

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