- #1
jnimagine
- 178
- 0
Hi i posted a question about the rocket experiment i did at school a few days ago but i just need some clarifications on some things.
I know that when a rocket is launched, not all kinetic energy is transferred to potential energy as it travels. That's why when i used formulas to figure out the energies and figured out the maximum height that was reached, was totally different from the actual height. Some of u guys helped me out by saying that the differnence in height is caused by losses of energy, friction between rocket and the launch pad, and wind.
I don't quite understand though, how energy would be lost because I thought energy is never lost. Does any of this have to do with the burning of the engine? and how would wind cause the calculation of the max. height to be so different from the actual height?
I know that when a rocket is launched, not all kinetic energy is transferred to potential energy as it travels. That's why when i used formulas to figure out the energies and figured out the maximum height that was reached, was totally different from the actual height. Some of u guys helped me out by saying that the differnence in height is caused by losses of energy, friction between rocket and the launch pad, and wind.
I don't quite understand though, how energy would be lost because I thought energy is never lost. Does any of this have to do with the burning of the engine? and how would wind cause the calculation of the max. height to be so different from the actual height?