Q.46 A rocket accelerates straight up by ejecting gas downwards. In a small time interval t, it ejects a gas of mass Am at a relative speed u. Calculate KE of the entire system at t + t and t and show that the device that ejects gas does work = (1/2) mu2 in this time interval (negative gravity).

Hint: Change in KE = work done by the device.
Step 1: Find the change in KE in time t.

Let M be the mass of the rocket at any time t and v1 the velocity of the rocket at the same time t.
Let m is the mass of gas ejected in time interval t.
The relative speed of gas = u.

Consider at time t + t

(KE)t+Δt=KE of rocket + KE of gas                 =12(MΔm)(v+Δv)2+12Δm(vu)2                =12Mv2+MvΔvΔmvu+12Δmu2(KE)t=KE of the rocket at time t=12Mv2ΔK=(KE)t+Δt(KE)t     =(MΔvΔmu)v+12Δmu2

Since action-reaction forces are equal.

Hence,

      Mdvdt=dmdtu MΔv=Δmu     ΔK=12Δmu2

Step 2: Find work done by applying work-energy theorem

Now, by work-energy theorem,

       ΔK=ΔW ΔW=12Δmu2