Rocket Motion Model
Uploaded by
Mike JonesRocket Motion Model
Uploaded by
Mike JonesRocket Motion Model
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Our task is to formulate a model for rocket motion, for the most basic case. The most basic case
is when the rocket is not having to act against gravity or any other external force, and when it is
traveling in a straight line, with the speed of its exhaust being constant. These conditions could
be met while the rocket is traveling somewhere in free space, for example.
So, herein, we consider the most basic case in which the rocket is not subject to net external
forces, is traveling in a straight line, and its exhaust has constant velocity. The rocket not being
subject to net external forces means that the sum of the external forces on the rocket is zero, for
example, if the rocket is somewhere in free space. Note that the the word ‘net’ is usually omitted,
and we simply say that the rocket is not subject to external forces. Also note that, in this
idealized situation, all bodies are considered to be particles, and it is assumed that the mass is
unable to exert external forces on anything outside of rocket-exhaust creation.
In our derivation of the rocket motion model, the ‘system’ will mean the system consisting of
both the rocket and its exhaust. The mass of the system is therefore constant.
Two reference frames need to be considered: that of the rocket (frame 0), and that of an external
observer (frame 1). (These frame numbers will appear as subscripts in references to the
concerned quantities.)
Also, since we are dealing only with one-dimensional motion, we use the term ‘velocity’ to
simply mean ‘speed’, and so we must manually adjust the algebraic sign as appropriate.
The main part of the derivation is obtaining the (time) derivative of the momentum of the
system, but since we don’t have a closed-form expression for the momentum of the exhaust
(because portions of the exhaust created at different times have different momentums), we can’t
just write down the expression for the momentum and then differentiate it. We can still obtain
the derivative, however, by directly applying the definition of the derivative to the momentum of
the system, and that is what we do.
The derivation, then, is:
definitions:
Vr,1 = the velocity of the rocket, as a function of time, with respect to an external observer
Ve,1 = the velocity of the rocket’s exhaust, as a function of time, with respect to an external
observer
Ve,0 = the constant velocity of the rocket’s exhaust, with respect to the rocket
ti = the initial time of the time-interval considered
tf = the final time of the time-interval considered
m = the mass of the rocket, as a function of time
mi = m(ti) = the initial total mass of the rocket, including propellant, also known as wet mass
mf = m(tf) = the final mass of the rocket, without propellant, also known as dry mass
p1 = the momentum of the rocket, at a specific point in time t
p2 = the momentum of the system, at an infinitesimally later point (t + dt) in time from that of p1
(with dm being negative)
Rocket Motion Model
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reasoning:
Note that Ve,1 = Vr,1 – Ve,0, a fact that we will use in the derivation.
p1 = mVr,1
p2 = (m + dm)(Vr,1 + dVr,1) + Ve,1(-dm)
= mVr,1 + mdVr,1 + Vr,1dm + dVr,1dm – Ve,1dm
Since dVr,1dm is the product of two infinitesimals, it can be ignored, meaning that during dt the
momentum of the system changes by dp, with dp being equal to p2 – p1, as follows:
dp = p2 – p1 = (mVr,1 + mdVr,1 + Vr,1dm – Ve,1dm) – mVr,1
= mdVr,1 + (Vr,1 – Ve,1)dm
= mdVr,1 + Ve,0dm (since Vr,1 – Ve,1 = Ve.0, since Ve,1 = Vr,1 – Ve,0)
Therefore: dp/dt = mdVr,1/dt + Ve,0dm/dt = 0 (by Newton’s second law of motion, since the net
external forces on the rocket is, by hypothesis, 0)
Therefore: mdVr,1/dt = -Ve,0dm/dt
Therefore: dVr,1 = -Ve,0dm/m
Therefore: integral(dVr,1,vi,vf) = -Ve,0integral((dm/m),mi,mf)
Therefore: vf – vi = -Ve,0ln(mf/mi)
Therefore: vf – vi = Ve,oln(mi/mf), this equation constituting our ‘rocket motion model’.
This last equation is usually written in the more compact form:
vr = veln(mi/mf)
This equation is called the ‘rocket equation’, or, the ‘ideal rocket equation’. It was first
formulated by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857 – 1935), and so it is also known as the
‘Tsiolkovsky rocket equation’. The Tsiolkovsky rocket equation captures the essentials of rocket
flight physics in a single short equation. Tsiolkovsky published his equation in 1903, 23 years
before Robert Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket.
Reference: the Wikipedia article on variable-mass systems
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