Paper 4, Section II, B
(a) A rocket, moving non-relativistically, has speed and mass at a time after it was fired. It ejects mass with constant speed relative to the rocket. Let the total momentum, at time , of the system (rocket and ejected mass) in the direction of the motion of the rocket be . Explain carefully why can be written in the form
If the rocket experiences no external force, show that
Derive the expression corresponding to for the total kinetic energy of the system at time . Show that kinetic energy is not necessarily conserved.
(b) Explain carefully how should be modified for a rocket moving relativistically, given that there are no external forces. Deduce that
where and hence that
(c) Show that and agree in the limit . Briefly explain the fact that kinetic energy is not conserved for the non-relativistic rocket, but relativistic energy is conserved for the relativistic rocket.