Question icon
Grade upto college level Mechanics

Consider a rocket at rest in empty space. What must be its mass ratio (ratio of initial to final mass) in order that, after firing its engine, the rocket's speed is (a) equal to the exhaust speed and (b) equal to twice the exhaust speed?

Profile image of Shane Macguire
11 Years agoGrade upto college level
Answers icon

1 Answer

Profile image of Deepak Patra
11 Years ago
233-491_1.PNG
Therefore, the mass ratio for which the final velocity of rocket is equal to the relative velocity of exhaust gases is 2.72.
233-716_1.PNG

Therefore, the mass ratio for which the final velocity of rocket is equal to the twice the relative velocity of exhaust gases is 7.38.