Rocket motion

TL;DR

This paper clarifies the correct application of Newton's laws to rocket motion, correcting misconceptions in textbooks and deriving accurate equations for rocket dynamics without modifying classical physics laws.

Contribution

It provides the true expression of thrust force in rocket motion and derives the correct differential equation governing their movement using classical laws.

Findings

Correct expression of thrust force derived

Differential equation of rocket motion established

Rocket acceleration during liftoff shown to be uniform

Abstract

The motion of rockets is part of the study devoted to the motion of variable mass systems. Notably those in which the mass leaves permanently the considered system. Rockets are propelled forward by the reaction force produced by the hot exhausted gases ejected from their tales in the rearward direction. Thus their motion should not violate Newton's third principle of the equality of action and reaction forces during the exhaustion process. Nor should it violate Newton's second law of motion judged by inertial observers. However a close examination of the study of the motion of rockets in a major part of physics textbooks, if not all reveals erroneous determination of the expression of the thrust force that pushes the rocket in the forward direction. The false expression of the thrust force entails a bad effect on obtaining the right differential equation that governs the motion of rockets. This trap induced some prominent physics authors to pretend the in applicability of Newton's second law in such particular cases. Not only that, but they also modified Newton's second law in order to fit their purposes of obtaining the right differential equation, historically known under the name Tsiolkovsky rocket equation. The object of this paper is to give the true expression of the thrust force and to write the differential equation of motion of rockets without any necessity of modification of the classical laws. The paper also delves into the expression of the change of velocity of rockets, and proves that their motion is uniformly accelerated in the early stages of liftoff from the ground at condition of constant velocity of expulsion of hot gases from their nozzles.