Physics |
EOS |
Rocket Science |
Stage 2 Saturn V. no gravity |
Stage 2 — The rocket has already jettisoned the Stage 1 frame and has coasted for 4.4 seconds. vexhaust = 4220 m/s R = 1190 kg/s tfinal = 360 s m0fuel = 0.428x106 kg minitial = mfinalStage 1— mjettisonStage 1 = 0.73x106 kg — 0.136x106 kg = 0.594x106 kg mfinal = 0.594x106 kg — 0.428x106 kg = .166x106 kg = mbody vinitial for Stage 2 is vfinal of Stage 1—use the Stage 1 result: 3275 m/s—no gravity |
**6.5 second coast period between second and third stages; displacement given by xcoast = tcoast vfinal |
Stage 2 Results and Graphs — no gravity |
Let’s dispense with gravity and look at the results if the Saturn V rocket were to be unfettered. |
webpages and Eos image copyright 2020 M Nealon |
Data for individual stages. |
Stage 2 Notes vfinal = 8650 m/s = 19,300 miles/hour a(tinitial) = .9 g’s a(tfinal) = 3.1 g’s x(tfinal) = 1950 km = 1210 miles After the Stage 2 burn, the rocket jettisons 0.0432x106 kg. |
Stage 3 Saturn V. no gravity Stage 3 occurs in two burns: the first burn puts the rocket into Earth orbit, the second is the translunar injection. Let’s live dangerously and burn it all in one go! . . . why not!* |
Stage 3 Notes vfinal = 17,100 m/s = 38,200 miles per hour; NASA says the speed at this point would be around 24,500 miles/hour (11,000 m/s). At this rate the rocket would arrive at the moon in hours, not 3 days! The reason it takes so long to arrive at the moon is because the rocket slows down. There’s the influence of gravity again! a(tfinal) = 5.1 g’s — upwards of 10 g’s becomes painful x(tfinal) = 3400 miles |
Stage 3 Results and Graphs |
Stage 3 — Total burn 477 seconds. vexhaust = 4630 m/s R = 216 kg/s tfinal = 477 s m0fuel = 0.103x106 kg minitial = mfinalStage 2— mjettisonStage 2 = 0.166x106 kg — 0.0432x106 kg = 0.123x106 kg mfinal = 0.123x106 kg — 0.103x106 kg = 0.020x106 kg = mbody vinitial for Stage 3 is vfinal of Stage 2 — 8650 m/s |
*Same results either way. |
Page 1 Momentum Derivation of the Rocket Equation Thrust
Page 2 Speed of the Rocket During the Burn
Page 3 Rocket Acceleration Position as a Function of Time
Page 4 Gravity
Page 5 Saturn V Data Stage 1 Calculation
Page 6 Saturn V Stage 2, Stage 3 Calculations
Page 7 Saturn V Photo Gallery
Page 8 Saturn V Photo Gallery
Page 9 Equation Review |
6 —Stage 2 —Stage 3 |
Stage 2 equations – no gravity |
Stage 3 equations – no gravity |
minitial (x106 kg) |
mfinal (x106 kg) |
vinitial (m/s) |
vfinal (m/s) |
a(t=0) (m/s2) |
a(tfinal) (m/s2) |
x(tfinal) (km) |
xcoast** (km) |
Final Altitude (km) |
0.594 |
.166 |
3275 |
8650 |
8.45 |
30.2 |
1950. |
56.2 |
2010. |
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m0fuel Fuel Mass (x106kg) |
T Thrust (x106N) |
tfinal Burn Duration (s) |
vexhaust Exhaust Velocity (m/s) |
R Burn Rate (kg/s) |
Frame Mass to jettison (X106kg) |
First stage |
2.04 |
33.4 |
150 |
2456 |
13600 |
0.136 |
Second stage |
.428 |
5.02 |
360 |
4220 |
1190. |
0.0432 |
Third stage a |
0.0356 |
1.00 |
165 |
4630 |
216. |
— not yet |
b |
0.0674 |
1.00 |
312 |
4630 |
216. |
0.0174 |
minitial (x106 kg) |
mfinal (x106 kg) |
vinitial (m/s) |
vfinal (m/s) |
a(t=0) (m/s2) |
a(tfinal) (m/s2) |
x(tfinal) (km) |
Xcoast (km) |
Final Displacement (km) |
0.123 |
0.020 |
8650 |
17,100 |
8.1 |
50. |
5,560 |
all the way to the moon |
5,560 |
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m0fuel Fuel Mass (x106kg) |
T Thrust (x106N) |
tfinal Burn Duration (s) |
vexhaust Exhaust Velocity (m/s) |
R Burn Rate (kg/s) |
Frame Mass to jettison (X106kg) |
Third stage a |
0.0356 |
1.00 |
165 |
4630 |
216. |
— not yet |
b |
0.0674 |
1.00 |
312 |
4630 |
216. |
0.0174 |
Third stage in one burn |
0.103 |
1.00 |
477 |
4630 |
216. |
0.0174 |