Netwons second law and rocket equation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the application of Newton's second law in the context of deriving the rocket equation. Participants explore the implications of mass change in a rocket system and the relationship between force, momentum, and thrust.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a formulation of Newton's second law and questions the derivation of the rocket equation, suggesting that the force exerted by the gas should include both the change in momentum of the rocket and the change in mass.
  • Another participant asserts that the change in mass (dm) is zero, implying that mass does not change in their view.
  • A different participant suggests using the product rule in differentiation to derive the change in momentum, indicating that dm/dt is relevant.
  • Another participant expresses confusion regarding the left-hand side of the equation, questioning what it represents in relation to the rate of change of momentum of the gas.
  • One participant introduces a distinction between "material systems" and "geometric systems," arguing that Newton's second law applies to systems with the same particles and that corrections are needed for systems where particles enter and leave the defined region.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicability of Newton's second law to the rocket equation, with no consensus reached on the interpretation of mass change and the correct formulation of the equations involved.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of mass change and the types of systems being analyzed, as well as the implications of momentum flux across system boundaries.

calculus_jy
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according to Newtons second law:
\vec{F}=\frac{d\vec{p}}{dt}=m\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}+\vec{v}\frac{dm}{dt}(1)
ie force impelled on a body is equal to the rate of change of momentum
however when we use calculus to derive rocket equation we get:
m\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}={\vec{v}_{gas\; relative \;to \;rocket}}\frac {dm}{dt}(2)
where \vec{v} is the velocity of the rocket
my problem now is that many textbook concludes that the net force on the rocket
\vec{F}=\vec{T}=m\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}={\vec{v}_{gas\; relative \;to \;rocket}}\frac{dm}{dt} where T is the THRUST
but when you apply (2) in (1) would not the force on rocket by gas be
\vec{F}=m\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}+\vec{v}\frac{dm}{dt}=({\vec{v}_{gas\; relative \;to \;rocket}+\vec{v})\frac{dm}{dt}?
 
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What's dm?...its 0...mass is not going to change!
 
if you use p=m(t)*v(t) and use product rule in differentiation you will get it dm/dt
 
Hi calculus_jy! :smile:
calculus_jy said:
however when we use calculus to derive rocket equation we get:
m\frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}={\vec{v}_{gas\; relative \;to \;rocket}}\frac {dm}{dt}(2)

I don't understand what you're doing here …

the RHS is the rate of change of momentum of the gas, so what is the LHS supposed to be? :confused:
 
There is a LOT of confusion on this issue.

The major reason for that is that one doesn't clearly distinguish between "material systems" and "geometric systems".

Now, a "material system" consists of the SAME particles throughout the observation period. Thus, this is the type of system that Newton's 2.law is valid for!

A "geometric system" is defined as whatever mass particles happen to reside within a specified spatial region throughout the observation period. It does NOT, in general, consist of the same material particles through the observation period, and HENCE, Newton's 2.law is not naively applicable here!

Because particles may ENTER, and LEAVE that spatial region, we must correct for the flux of momentum over the boundaries of the specified region in order to get a "tweaked" Newton's 2.law.

I made a thread of this some time ago, where the rocket equation is properly derived:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=72176
 

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