If a rocket motor has a total impulse of 2560 Ns and a burn time of 5 seconds, what is the average thrust?

To determine the average thrust produced by a rocket motor, you can use the relationship between total impulse, average thrust, and burn time. The formula for average thrust is derived from the total impulse, which is defined as the product of average thrust and the time during which the thrust is applied.

The total impulse (in Newton-seconds, Ns) is equal to the average thrust (in Newtons, N) multiplied by the burn time (in seconds). This can be mathematically represented as:

Total Impulse = Average Thrust × Burn Time

In this case, you know the total impulse is 2560 Ns and the burn time is 5 seconds. Rearranging the formula to solve for average thrust gives:

Average Thrust = Total Impulse / Burn Time

Now, substituting the given values:

Average Thrust = 2560 Ns / 5 s = 512.0 N

Thus, the average thrust of the rocket motor is 512.0 N. This calculation is based on the direct relationship between impulse, thrust, and time, reinforcing the understanding of how these factors interact in rocketry.