M1M(Comp) An Introduction To Maple

Phil Ramsden

Assessed Project 3: Space Race

Deadline: 5pm, day after your tutorial, week beginning 12 December 2011 Your coursework must contain a cover sheet and the following signed pledge that it is your own work. This signature signies that this represents my own work, completed independently, without assistance except where acknowledged and properly referenced. Signed: CID: Name: Tutorial Group:

This assignment, together with all the other resources youll need, are available in Blackboard, at http://learn.imperial.ac.uk/

Part 1: Escape from Earth

A body of mass m kg, projected straight upwards from a planet or moon of radius R m, is subject to a gravitational force m g R2 newtons, (R + z)2

where g m s2 is the strength of the gravitational eld at the surface and z m is the bodys height above the surface.

Question 1
(i) Use dsolve to nd the general solution of the dierential equation v g R2 dv = , dz (R + z)2

and use solve to solve for _C1 and hence deduce the solution corresponding to v(0) = v0.

(ii) For Earth, R = 6.39 106 and g = 9.81. Find, and plot for 0 z 107 , the solutions v = v(z) corresponding to v0 = g R, v0 = 2 g R and v0 = 3 g R. Interpret these ndings: what would you expect to happen if a body was projected directly upwards with each of these three speeds from the surface of the Earth (neglecting air resistance)? Load the DEtools package, and use DEplot to create a gradient eld diagram for the dierential equation (using values of the constants approprate for Earth). Superimpose the three solution plots on this diagram, either by using display or by supplying extra arguments to DEplot. (iii) Find and plot numerical solutions z = z(t) of the dierential equation d2 z g R2 = , dt2 (R + z)2 using values of R and g appropriate for Earth, for the three initial velocities from part (ii). (You can use DEplot for this, or dsolve with type=numeric, followed by odeplot.) Choose appropriate plotting ranges that bring out the dierences among the plots. Are these plots consistent with your interpretation in part (ii)? Explain. (iv) Use DEplot to produce a vector eld plot for the coupled system dz dt dv dt = v, = g R2 , (R + z)2

using values of R and g appropriate for Earth. Explain how this coupled system relates to the system under study. Superimpose three solution curves, corresponding to the three initial velocities from parts (ii) and (iii), on your vector eld plot.

Part 2: Rocket Equation

In the absence of external forces, a chemical rocket with constant exhaust velocity vex m s1 moves in a straight line such that its velocity v m s1 is related to its mass m kg (which decreases with time) via the dierential equation vex dv = . dm m

Question 2
(i) Solve this dierential equation, given that the initial velocity and mass are 0 and m0 respectively. (ii) A realistic rocket might have exhaust velocity 3000 m s1 , and 85% of its initial mass might be used up in burning its fuel. Assuming this, calculate the velocity of the rocket when its fuel is used up, given that it has travelled in a straight line. Given that the fuel burns at a constant rate, and takes 120 s to be used up, calculate the mass as a function of time, and hence set up and solve a dierential equation relating v and t. How far does the rocket travel during the burn? Illustrate this system, and your ndings, using a suitable diagram of your choice. 70% of the marks are available for Parts 1 and 2

Part 3: Advanced Material

Question 3
(i) Set up a dierential equation in z and t for a rocket launched directly upwards from the surface of the Earth, moving under a variable gravitational force (as in part 1). You may neglect air resistance. Solve this dierential equation numerically given that the rocket is launched from rest, and that the exhaust velocity is 3000 m s1 , as in part 2. How far has the rocket risen during its 120 s burn, and what is its velocity at the end of it? (ii) What will now happen if the spacecraft continues to move in a straight line under the variable gravitational eld, but without any impulse from the motor? Explain, using Maple as appropriate. What can be done if we want to use chemical rockets to escape from the Earths gravitational eld entirely, without falling back to Earth? (Assume that we cannot increase either the exhaust velocity or the fraction of a rockets mass used up in burning fuel). Use Maple to show how your solution to the problem will work. (iii) Develop, and solve numerically, a more sophisticated dierential equation model that takes air resistance into account; you will need to nd out about things like high velocity drag, drag coecient and the dependence of atmospheric density on height above the Earth. (You should cite your sources; respectable online sources are acceptable.) Make whatever simplifying assumptions seem to you necessary and appropriate, making sure that you state and justify them. What dierence does air resistance seem to make to the answer to the nal part of part (i)? 30% of the marks are available for Part 3