Designing a MATLAB Program for Rocket Launch

[booboo123]

Homework Statement

Hi Guys,
First post, so please take it easy on the noob


The problem is designing a MATLAB program for a rocket that has the user enter the following;

1) Launch angle
2) Launch velocity (ft. per sec)
3) Distance to target
4) How high the target location is above or below the launch site
5) The allowable range they will accept their rocket hitting from the target (for example their target could be 300ft away and it is acceptable for their rocket to miss the target by 10ft in either direction).


The program needs to calculate the following;
1) Time rocket is airborne
2) The distance away the rocket will land
3) How far away the rocket lands from its target (including whether or not the target was undershot or overshot).

Homework Equations

Im given the following;

1)landing distance = Vo*(cos (launch angle))*time
2)altitude of landing site = vo(sin(launch angle))*time - 16.1* t^2

The Attempt at a Solution

I know how to calculate the distance the rocket travels and the time it travels if the landing site is the same height as the launch site. What is really throwing me is, how I take into account the changing height of the landing site? Can you guys please shed some light on this, or at least point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance!

 

[rl.bhat]

Changing the sign of the altitude of landing site you can decide whether the landing site is above or below the launching site. +ve for above and -ve for below.

 

[ogb p]

I would approach this problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. First, I would define the variables and parameters given in the problem, such as launch angle, launch velocity, distance to target, target height, and allowable range. Then, I would use equations and formulas to calculate the time the rocket is airborne, the distance it travels, and the altitude of the landing site.

Next, I would consider the changing height of the landing site and how it affects the trajectory of the rocket. This could be done by incorporating the altitude of the target into the equations, or by using a combination of equations to calculate the altitude at each point in time.

Once these calculations are complete, I would use conditional statements to determine if the rocket has overshot or undershot the target, and by how much. This could be done by comparing the calculated landing distance to the target distance and the allowable range.

Finally, I would put all of these steps together into a MATLAB program, testing it with different inputs to ensure accuracy. I would also consider any potential errors or limitations and make adjustments as needed.

Overall, designing a MATLAB program for a rocket launch would require a thorough understanding of the problem and a systematic approach to solving it using equations and logical thinking. It may also be helpful to consult with colleagues or experts in the field to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the program.