Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-1-paper-of-the-university-of-oxford/2017-resit/8/a/solution

Choose downward velocity positive. The remaining rocket mass is , and the upward rocket thrust has magnitude , where is the relative rocket exhaust speed. The rocket equation including gravity is
This follows by applying momentum conservation to the rocket and its just-expelled rocket propellant, with gravity supplying the external impulse. Applying to the rocket alone would omit the exhaust momentum flux.

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