help with for loop matrix size

% Initial values
h(1)  = 0;
rho(1)= po*M/(R*To);
t(1)  = 0;
vy(1) = 0;
dt    = 1;
p(1)  = po;
T(1)  = To;
x(1)  = 0;
vx(1) = 0;
Fdy(1)= 0;
Fdx(1)= 0;
% Position for loop
for i=1:480
    m1(i)   = ms + mt + ml*(1-t(i)/Tt) + mr + ms*(1-t(i)/Tb); % Mass Stage 1
    g(i)    = go * (re/(re+h(i)))^2;                          % Gravitational Acceleration Above Earth
    Fdy(i)  = .5 * rho(i) * vy(i)^2 * Cd *A;                  % Drag Force y-direction
    rho(i)  = (p(i) * M)/(R*T(i));                            % Air Density
    p(i)    = po * (1-(L*h(i)/To))^(g(i)*M/(R*L));            % Air Pressure
    T(i)   = To - L * h(i);                                   % Air Temperature
    Fdx(i) = .5 * rho(i) * vx(i)^2 * Cd *A;                   % Drag Force x-direction
    t(i+1)=t(i)+dt;
    x(i+1)=x(i)+dt*(vx(i));
    vx(i+1)=vx(i)+dt*(FTx1-Fdx(i))/m1(i);
    h(i+1)=h(i)+dt*(vy(i));
    vy(i+1)=vy(i)+dt*((FTy1/m1(i))+((vx(i)^2)/(re+h(i)))-g(i)-(Fdy(i)/m1(i)));
end

When I run this loop it says that rho(2) does not exist. It seems that the loop is not calculating a new value for rho every step. How should I fix this?

Thanks in advance

[kyle mikkola]

I thought that make rho(1)=something just means that i set the first rho value and then the loop would update every value after that? How should I change this?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

You currently have

      Fdy(i)  = .5 * rho(i) * vy(i)^2 * Cd *A;                  % Drag Force y-direction

      rho(i)  = (p(i) * M)/(R*T(i));                            % Air Density

You need to exchange those two lines so rho(i) is set before it is used.

[kyle mikkola]

Thank you so much! It works now!

Answer 2

[Stalin Samuel]

In the line rho(1)= po*M/(R*To); you define that size of rho is 1.But you are accessing the values from 1 to 480.So it says that rho(2) does not exist.

[Stalin Samuel]

h = 0;

rho= po*M/(R*To);

t = 0;

vy= 0;

dt = 1;

p= po;

T= To;

x = 0;

vx= 0;

Fdy= 0;

Fdx= 0;