Rocket Motion and Variable Mass System

Vocabulary flashcards covering variable mass systems and rocket motion equations from lecture notes.

Rocket Differential Equation ($m \, dv$)

The relationship between mass variation and change in velocity given in the notes as $m \, dv = - v_{rel} \, dm$.

Differential Velocity ($dv$)

The differential velocity step taking external gravity into account, written as $dv = - v_{rel} \, \frac{dm}{m} - g \, dt$.

Integrated Rocket Velocity Equation ($v$)

The integrated velocity equation derived as $v = u - g \, t - v_{rel} \ln\left(\frac{m}{m_0}\right)$, where $u$ is initial velocity, $g$ is gravity, and $v_{rel}$ is relative velocity.

Relative Exhaust Velocity ($v_{rel}$)

The velocity of the ejected exhaust mass relative to the rocket.

Initial Mass ($m_0$)

The starting total mass of the system before mass ejection $dm$ occurs over time interval $dt$.