Developing & Using Models
Directions: Select each correct answer. More than one answer may be correct.
Calculating the path of a rocket is not easy. As it uses up its fuel, the rocket's mass changes. As its velocity changes, the drag force
from the air it moves through changes. This drag force is called air resistance. Air resistance depends on an object's mass, velocity,
shape, and cross-sectional area.
Ravenna found a computer program that would calculate the path of a rocket when given the following information:
• the rocket's mass
• its cross-sectional area
• the initial mass of the rocker's fuel
• two constants
The constants are different for every rocket. They can be calculated using data from a single flight of the rocket.
Ravenna bought a model rocket engine and used it to build a model rocket. She wants to use the computer program to help her
maximize her rocket's flight range. What does Ravenna need to do in order to get the information the program needs?
measure her rocket's mass and cross-sectional area
O optimize the ratio of rocket fuel mass to rocket mass
test her prototype and collect data about its flight
find the appropriate values for the constants