A rocket engine consumes 450 kg of fuel per minute. If the exhaust speed of the ejected fuel is 5.2 km/s, what is the thrust of the rocket?

2 answers

F=T=ma=massrate*velocity=450*5.4k = 2340kN
Thrust = v * dM/dt
Exhaust speed * rate of change of mass

450 kg/min / 60 s = 7.5 kg/s = change of mass over time
5.2 km/s * 1000 m = 5200 m/s = exhaust speed

(5200) (7.5) = 39000 N
39000 N / 1000 N = 39 kN