Relative velocity of exhaust in Ideal Rocket Equation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Ideal Rocket Equation, specifically the relationship between the velocity of the exhaust in the observer frame (V_e) and the rocket's velocity (V). The equation V_e = V - v_e is debated, with a suggestion that it should be V_e = V + dV - v_e due to the rocket's acceleration during exhaust ejection. However, the conclusion is that this adjustment does not affect the overall derivation, as the differential dV ultimately results in zero when applied in the context of the equation.

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ln(
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In this derivation of the Ideal Rocket Equation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsiolkovsky_rocket_equation#Most_popular_derivation), they use the fact that ##V_e = V - v_e##, or that the velocity of the exhaust in the observer frame ##V_e## is the velocity of the rocket ##V## minus the speed of the exhaust relative to the rocket ##v_e##.

But since the rocket has sped up by ##dV## during the time it took to eject the exhaust, shouldn't this expression really be ##V_e = V + dV - v_e##? Note that even if my reasoning is correct, it doesn't actually make a difference in the derivation because dV ends up being in a product of two differentials, which equals 0.
 
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ln( said:
Note that even if my reasoning is correct, it doesn't actually make a difference in the derivation because dV ends up being in a product of two differentials, which equals 0.
Exactly. Two ways to derive the same result. Both are fine.
 

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