By Kovidh Manel The BrahMos Missile, jointly developed by India and Russia in 2005, is utilized by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Philippine Marine Corps. Its name combines the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia.
Key Principles of the Missile's Flight
The BrahMos missile's flight is based on Newton's laws of motion, demonstrating an excellent real-life application of these fundamental principles and showcasing India's robust defense industry.
Newton's First Law: Inertia
Unless acted upon by an external force, an object remains at rest or in uniform motion. Factors like air resistance and gravity constantly alter the BrahMos missile's course and velocity during flight.
Newton's Second Law: Force and Acceleration
Force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma). The BrahMos missile's initial motion is propelled by its engine's powerful thrust, enabling rapid acceleration.
Newton's Third Law: Action and Reaction
Every action (or force) in nature has an equal and opposite response. This principle governs the BrahMos engine's thrust mechanism, generating forward propulsion through exhaust gas ejection.
Propulsion System
The two-stage propulsion system enables the missile to reach high speeds:
1. Solid-propellant rocket booster (first stage): Instantaneous ascent to supersonic velocity upon launch.
2. Liquid-fueled ramjet engine (second stage): Activates when the missile achieves target speed.
Kinetic Energy
The BrahMos missile's tremendous kinetic energy upon impact is a significant advantage. Kinetic energy is calculated using the formula:
K.E. = 1/2 m v^2
Given the BrahMos missile's mass (approximately 3,000 kg) and supersonic speed, the generated kinetic energy is substantial. This enables the missile to penetrate heavily armored targets with significant impact, even without large warheads too!
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