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solve for a, and now its accelerating at 4 m/s/s. So this is why it’s called rocket science! It’s a continuing variable equation, which needs calculus to solve it fully.
However what’s true of a rocket is also true of anything that moves. So your car takes more force to move
when it’s full of petrol, or when it is full of passengers, or full of luggage, or even just yourself if you’ve put
on some pounds over Christmas.
Words: Julian Onions
ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014