AS301, IITM Lecture 1 (03/08/2007)

SECTION A
1. ROCKET PROPULSION FUNDAMENTALS
1.1 THRUST FROM A STATIONARY ROCKET ENGINE / MOTOR:
r
dS

pa

Ae
Y

pe
X

Control volume: V

Continuity Equation:
r r
dM V

dV
+

U
dS = 0
+ eU e Ae = 0

t V
dt
S
Rate of change of

Mass flux through

mass inside control

the control surfaces

volume V

m& e = eU e Ae = M& V
X-momentum equation
r

udV +
t
V

uU dS

= Fx

Rate of change of

Momentum flux through

External forces

momentum inside

the control surfaces

on the system

control volume V

r
F
=
T
+

Pd
S
= T + Ae p a Ae p e
X

Thrust:
& e U eq
T = m& eU e + Ae ( p e p a ) = m

p pa
where U eq = U e + e
m&

Ae

Ue

Total impulse ( I ):

I = T dt = m pU eq

m
units : kg , where mp = total mass of propellant expelled.
s

Specific impulse ( I sp ):

I sp =

I
mp ge

U eq
ge

m/s

units :
s
2
m/s

Here g e is the acceleration due to gravity at the earths surface. Note that the
choice of g e is arbitrary. The advantage is that in all common systems (fps, cgs,
SI etc.) the unit of specific impulse ( I sp ) is the same seconds.