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TRA L2 TECHNICAL Questions with Detailed Verified
Answers
Which of Newton's Laws best describes the behavior of a rocket motor? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Newton's
Third Law. Applying a force in one direction always results in an equal force in
the opposite direction.
How does Newton's Third Law "To every action there is always an equal and opposite
reaction" relate to rocketry? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The rocket motor's thrust causes the rocket to accelerate
in the direction opposite the
motor's thrust. Thus, a rocket motor pushes only on the rocket, not on the air or launch
pad.
What are the three forces acting upon a rocket during flight? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Gravity, thrust and drag
are the forces acting on a rocket.
What are the three major factors that determine the maximum altitude of a high-power
rocket in vertical flight? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The motor thrust, weight and aerodynamic drag are the
primary forces considered when
determining the altitude of a rocket. Please note that the weight of the rocket must
consider the lift-off weight and the weight at burn-out to be complete.
For an inherently stable rocket, which statement about the center of gravity (CG) and the
center of pressure (CP) is true? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The center of pressure (CP) is where the aerodynamic
lift, due to the rocket being at a
non-zero angle of attack, is centered. For an aerodynamically stable rocket with the CP
behind the center of gravity (CG), the lift which is centered aft of the CG will create a
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corrective moment to return the rocket to zero degrees angle of attack. Conversely, if
the CP is ahead of the CG the lift will attempt to turn the rocket around so that the CP
will again be behind the CG. This resultant "tumbling" is characteristic of an unstable
rocket.
A 4" diameter rocket with its motor is determined to have the center of gravity (CG) four
inches behind the center of pressure (CP). Is this a rocket likely to be stable? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The
rocket is not stable because if the rocket rotated around its center of gravity (CG),
the greater aerodynamic force forward of the CG would cause the rocket to rotate even
farther, resulting in an unstable flight.
The center of pressure (CP) of a rocket is generally defined as: Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The center of pressure
(CP) is the point on the rocket where the aerodynamic lift is
centered. This means that aerodynamic lift, if the rocket is at a non-zero angle of attack,
forward of this point is balanced by the aerodynamic lift aft of that point.
What is the "rule-of-thumb" for a stable rocket? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Keeping the center of gravity (CG) one
body diameter in front of the center of pressure
(CP) typically allows an adequate margin for rocket stability.
You are at the launch site and decide to fly your rocket on a heavier motor than you
simulated it on. Which statement regarding CG is true? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Measuring the center of
gravity (CG) by balancing the rocket requires that the rocket be
prepared as though ready for flight. It is especially important to check when using a
heavier motor than previously flown.
What ordinarily happens to the center of gravity (CG) of a rocket during a solid rocket
motor's thrusting phase? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ As the propellant burns, the motor gets lighter causing the
balance point or center of
gravity (CG) to shift forward. This is why a marginally stable rocket may "act squirrelly"
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
TRA L2 TECHNICAL Questions with Detailed Verified
Answers
Which of Newton's Laws best describes the behavior of a rocket motor? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Newton's
Third Law. Applying a force in one direction always results in an equal force in
the opposite direction.
How does Newton's Third Law "To every action there is always an equal and opposite
reaction" relate to rocketry? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The rocket motor's thrust causes the rocket to accelerate
in the direction opposite the
motor's thrust. Thus, a rocket motor pushes only on the rocket, not on the air or launch
pad.
What are the three forces acting upon a rocket during flight? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Gravity, thrust and drag
are the forces acting on a rocket.
What are the three major factors that determine the maximum altitude of a high-power
rocket in vertical flight? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The motor thrust, weight and aerodynamic drag are the
primary forces considered when
determining the altitude of a rocket. Please note that the weight of the rocket must
consider the lift-off weight and the weight at burn-out to be complete.
For an inherently stable rocket, which statement about the center of gravity (CG) and the
center of pressure (CP) is true? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The center of pressure (CP) is where the aerodynamic
lift, due to the rocket being at a
non-zero angle of attack, is centered. For an aerodynamically stable rocket with the CP
behind the center of gravity (CG), the lift which is centered aft of the CG will create a
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, Click here for more: Scholars nexus
corrective moment to return the rocket to zero degrees angle of attack. Conversely, if
the CP is ahead of the CG the lift will attempt to turn the rocket around so that the CP
will again be behind the CG. This resultant "tumbling" is characteristic of an unstable
rocket.
A 4" diameter rocket with its motor is determined to have the center of gravity (CG) four
inches behind the center of pressure (CP). Is this a rocket likely to be stable? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The
rocket is not stable because if the rocket rotated around its center of gravity (CG),
the greater aerodynamic force forward of the CG would cause the rocket to rotate even
farther, resulting in an unstable flight.
The center of pressure (CP) of a rocket is generally defined as: Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The center of pressure
(CP) is the point on the rocket where the aerodynamic lift is
centered. This means that aerodynamic lift, if the rocket is at a non-zero angle of attack,
forward of this point is balanced by the aerodynamic lift aft of that point.
What is the "rule-of-thumb" for a stable rocket? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Keeping the center of gravity (CG) one
body diameter in front of the center of pressure
(CP) typically allows an adequate margin for rocket stability.
You are at the launch site and decide to fly your rocket on a heavier motor than you
simulated it on. Which statement regarding CG is true? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Measuring the center of
gravity (CG) by balancing the rocket requires that the rocket be
prepared as though ready for flight. It is especially important to check when using a
heavier motor than previously flown.
What ordinarily happens to the center of gravity (CG) of a rocket during a solid rocket
motor's thrusting phase? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ As the propellant burns, the motor gets lighter causing the
balance point or center of
gravity (CG) to shift forward. This is why a marginally stable rocket may "act squirrelly"
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
