Operation Ortsac

As the Soviets are prepared to launch SS-4 ballistic nuclear missiles at the US from Cuba, we are
prepared to fire Patriot air defense missiles to intercept and destroy any incoming missiles before
they reach the United States. Your job is to prepare the equation that your Patriot missile will follow in
order to intercept the SS-4.
1. We know the Soviet missiles have a maximum velocity of 7 km/s. What distance must they travel
to hit your target city?

927.46 miles (1,492.60 km)

2. What is the equation for velocity?

V=d/t, where v is velocity, d is distance, and t is time

3. Velocity can be split into vertical and horizontal components. What are those?
Vertical velocity is A projectile changes by 9.8 m/s each second
Horizontal velocity is Its constant, never changing in value
4. If we ignore air resistance (remember, most of the time, these missiles will be in space), what is
the only thing that will slow the missiles down?
Gravity of Earth
The equation for the height of a projectile (ballistic missile) is

h=

1 2
a t + v y t+h 0 .
2

5. Define the variables.

H= Height of the ballistic missile
A= acceleration due to gravity
T= time (seconds)
Vy= vertical velocity of the missile
H0= starting height
6. If we know how far the missile travels and how fast it goes, what do we need to know in order to
launch it correctly?
Know the angle of launch
7. Where do you find that in our equations, and how would you substitute it in?

H=height of the ballistic missiles

D=distance from Cuba
A=launch angle
8. Follow lines 1 - 5 on Desmos - Ballistic Missile. What is the launch angle?

84.655
9. Follow lines 6 - 9. How long does the missile take to reach the target city?
1412.194 seconds
10. Follow lines 10 - 13.
What is the maximum height of the missile?
2443.009
How far has the missile traveled at that point?
746.269
Why does that make sense?
It makes since, the missile goes all the way up
into space then it would have to travel back down
What do the x-intercepts mean?
The start point and end point
11. Follow lines 14 - 21.
How long does it take to intercept the Soviet missile with your Patriot missile?
144.108 - 399.361
Which option seems more reasonable? 144.108 Why? The earlier it is the further the
explosion is away from the United states
12. Follow lines 22 - 23. What is the height that the missile is intercepted?
2443.009
13. Follow lines 24 - 25. What are the coordinates of the ballistic missile when it is intercepted?
895.433
14. Follow line 26. What are the coordinates of the Patriot missile when it is launched? Why?
(160,0) It's on american ground and it is the closest to Cuba
15. Follow lines 27 - 29 to determine the Patriot missile intercept equation.
y=-116.396x+18623.3

16. Line 30. Did the Patriot missile successfully intercept the ballistic missile? How do you know?
Yes it intercept at (152.307,895.433)