HOME > Sample Questions > Test Engineering Module > Formalising Technical Interrelationships > Example 5
Formalising Technical Interrelationships - Example 5
Instructions
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
The initial weight of a rocket is WI. After the engines are started (t=0), fuel is expelled; the amount of fuel is proportional to time. When the fuel has been burned up, at the point in time T, the engines are turned off. The weight of the rocket has decreased to WT.
Which of the following equations applies for the rocket weight W at the point in time t in the time interval 0<= t <= T ?
(A)

(A)
incorrect
(B)

(B)
incorrect
(C)

(C)
incorrect
(D)

(D)
correct
Degree of difficulty: high
Solution
The task presented by this test item is to find an equation which describes
the change in the rocket's weight over the course of time. To this end, let us
consider the following figure (see below). At the time of take-off (t = 0)
the weight is WI. After take-off, fuel is expelled, and the rocket's
weight decreases. It can be deduced from the text that the amount of fuel expelled
is proportional to time. In other words, in the time interval between 0 and T, the
weight decreases linearly (WI - WT). The slope of the resulting
straight line is thus (WI - WT)/T and is preceded by a minus sign
because the weight is decreasing. This line intersects the vertical
axis at the point WI.
The correct equation therefore is (D): 

.
Accordingly, if:

.
Instructions
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6