Problem 1-9| General Principles| Engineering Mechanics: Statics| RC Hibbeler


A rocket has a mass of 250(10³) slugs on earth. Specify (a) its mass in SI units and (b) its weight in SI units. If the rocket is on the moon, where the acceleration due to gravity is g_m=5.30\:ft/s^2, determine to three significant figures (c) its weight in SI units and (d) its mass in SI units.


Solution:

a) 250\left(10^3\right)slugs=\left[250\left(10^3\right)\:slugs\right]\left(\frac{14.59\:kg}{1\:slug}\right)=3.6457\left(10^6\right)\:kg=3.65\:Gg

b) W_e=mg=\left[3.6475\left(10^6\right)kg\right]\left(9.81\:m/s^2\right)=35.792\left(10^6\right)kg\cdot m/s^2=35.8\:MN

c) W_m=mg_m=\left[250\left(10^3\right)slugs\right]\left(5.30\:ft/s^2\right)=\left[1.325\left(10^6\right)lb\right]\left(\frac{4.448\:N}{1\:lb}\right)=5.894\left(10^6\right)N=5.89\:MN

d) m_m=m_e=3.65\left(10^6\right)kg=3.65\:Gg