Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation
The Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation, also known as the ideal rocket equation, is a fundamental principle in aerospace engineering that describes the motion of vehicles that follow the basic principle of a rocket: a device that can apply acceleration to itself using thrust by expelling part of its mass with high speed and move due to the conservation of momentum. Named after Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky who independently derived the equation, it calculates the final velocity of a rocket in terms of the initial total mass (including propellant) and the final total mass (after expelling the propellant) and the effective exhaust velocity of the propellant. The equation is a simple relation in physics that comes directly from the application of Newton's second law of motion. It is fundamental to the understanding of both the capability and limitations of rockets, and is essential in the design and operation of rocket vehicles.
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