Need clarification for an acceleration-time graph on a rocket launch. (1 Viewer)

[IBEKEVINN]

I've been receiving some conflicting information and just wanted to clarify. For a rocket launch, is the acceleration-time graph a linear increase, or is it an increase at an increasing rate.

 

[DepressedPenguino]

Not linear acceleration

 

[anomalousdecay]

Not linear acceleration

This. The rocket uses fuel and as a result the mass of the rocket decreases slowly. Also at the same time, as you get further and further away from the Earth's surface, the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on the rocket slowly decreases, meaning that the rocket will be able to accelerate away from the Earth at a higher rate now.

As a result of both of these occurrences, the rocket's rate of acceleration is also increasing. So the acceleration is not constant, but the acceleration itself is also increasing.

 

[Thank_You]

The rocket acceleration graph, assuming it is multi-staged, looks something like this:

 

[Quantum College]

Yep acceleration increases at an increasing rate. According to F=ma, a=F/m. As the rocket travels upwards it shoots exhaust gases out which reduces its mass (m). When m decreases then a (=F/m) will increase because there is and inverse relationship.

Furthermore as it travels higher up the earths gravitational pull weakens. Therefore it is progressively easier to accelerate to reach higher speeds.