Is it b/c the earth is round and it is actually rising straight into the sky, but we're turning? Or does it have to penetrate the atmosphere in an angle?
2006-10-10 05:43:23 · 11 answers · asked by garfield_h2o 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It depends on where the rocket is going.
Sounding rockets, and other rockets not entering orbit, usually rise straight up, so that they will land in nearly the same place as they take off.
Rockets carrying satellites into orbit have two jobs to do: first, they must take the satellite above the atmosphere; and second, they must give the satellite enough *horizontal* velocity to maintain orbit. So once these rockets are above the lower atmosphere, they must turn during their ascent, to give the payload more horizontal and less vertical velocity as the rocket ascends.
2006-10-10 05:51:51 · answer #1 · answered by Keith P 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
One of the answers already mentioned the correct reason, it's to get into orbit.
It's kind of hard to visualize, but to get into orbit, you need to go a certain speed (for Astronauts it's about 17,500 mph) and they need to try and do that parrallel to the ground. This allows the Earth's gravity to bend them as if they were falling around the Earth.
Issac Newton actually came up with the idea by observing that cannon balls always flew in an arc. He noticed that no matter how far the cannon ball flew, it would fall in an arc. He imagined that if a cannon were shot from a really high mountain and was fired fast enough, it would fall around the Earth.
And that's basically what our rockets do today.
2006-10-10 06:07:24 · answer #2 · answered by Doob_age 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they just went straight up gravity would eventually bring them straight down. The angle is to let them build up enough speed to enter orbit arounf the earth, 18,000 miles per hour, to counter the effect of gravity. At that speed the rocket is still falling due to gravity but it moves fast enough to match the curve of the Earth so that it continues to fall around the Earth in an orbit. To completely escape Earth's gravity you have to get up to 25,000 miles per hour. There actually have been a very few rocket that went straight up and achived that speed for inter planetart missions but it is still easier to put them into orbit first and then gradually build up the needed speed.
2006-10-15 04:10:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Speed is relative...the rocket is already going at the speed of earths rotation in relation to space and orbit. So it is a mute point. It must go faster to escape velocity to achieve orbit. That is to say it must go fast enough to fall at the same curve of the earth. It goes up and thru its programing and thrusters angles for an eastern trajectory. If it went west, it could not fall and stay in orbit. If it were because of us turning it would appear to go west. It is a fine line that makes an argument for those who want to argue. Speed is relavant - rocket and earth start at the same speed but in relation to each other no speed. consequently no addition.
2006-10-18 04:07:40 · answer #4 · answered by orion_1812@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that Keiths answer is wrong. my proffessor told me this answer. rockets DO go up straight into the sky. but because of the earth turning below the rocket it appears to us that the rocket does not follow a straight path. in actuality it IS going straight up
2006-10-10 05:56:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rockets going to orbit need to end up traveling parallel to the ground, because that is what an orbit does. So they are steered sideways shortly after launch to do that.
2006-10-10 06:17:59 · answer #6 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
air friction....
but i observed that some rockets do rise up straight into the sky... coz some mechanism is holding it straight up before it launches... right?
2006-10-10 05:56:27 · answer #7 · answered by harry_potter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Most rockets you see going at an angle are short range weapons.
2006-10-10 06:27:27 · answer #8 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Even rockets can't accelerate to escape speeds traveling straight up. They have to do it at an angle.
2006-10-10 05:53:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
they rise diagnally because it takes longer and they get more speed so they dont burn up in the earths atmosphere.
2006-10-14 23:44:21 · answer #10 · answered by ando_299 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋