OCR MEI M4 2012 June — Question 1

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleM4 (Mechanics 4)
Year2012
SessionJune
TopicMomentum and Collisions 2

1 A rocket in deep space has initial mass \(m _ { 0 }\) and is moving in a straight line at speed \(v _ { 0 }\). It fires its engine in the direction opposite to the motion in order to increase its speed. The propulsion system ejects matter at a constant mass rate \(k\) with constant speed \(u\) relative to the rocket. At time \(t\) after the engines are fired, the speed of the rocket is \(v\).
  1. Show that while mass is being ejected from the rocket, \(\left( m _ { 0 } - k t \right) \frac { \mathrm { d } v } { \mathrm {~d} t } = u k\).
  2. Hence find an expression for \(v\) at time \(t\).