General Physics I

Momentum and Continuous Mass Transfer - Set 7

Prof. Suliana Manley

1. Acrobat and Clown

An acrobat of mass mA jumps upwards off a trampoline with an initial speed v0 . At a height h0 , the acrobat
grabs a clown of mass mB . Assume that the time the acrobat takes to grab the clown is negligibly small.

What is the maximum height hf reached by the acrobat and clown? Write your answer in terms of some or
all of the following: mA , mB , g, h0 , and v0 .

2. Falling Drop

A raindrop of mass m0 , starting from rest, falls under the influence of gravity. Assume that as the raindrop
travels through the clouds, it gains mass at a rate proportional to the momentum of the raindrop, dm dt =
r

kmr vr , where mr is the instantaneous mass of the raindrop, v r is the instantaneous velocity of the raindrop,
and k is a constant with unit m−1 . You may neglect air resistance.
 

1. Derive a differential equation for the raindrop’s accelerations dv

dt in terms of k, g, and the raindrop’s
r

instantaneous velocity vr . Express your answer using some or all of the following variables: k, g for the
gravitational acceleration and vr , the raindrop’s instantaneous velocity.
2. What is the terminal speed, vT , of the raindrop? Express your answer using some or all of the following
variables: k and g for the gravitational acceleration.

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General Physics I Momentum and Continuous Mass Transfer - Set 7

3. Falling Chain

A chain of mass m and length l is suspended vertically with its lowest end touching a scale. The chain is
released and fall onto the scale. What is the reading of the scale when a length of chain, y , has fallen?
(Neglect the size of the individual links.) Let g denote the gravitational constant.

4. Homework: Rocket with changing mass

A rocket pointed vertically consumes a mass D of fuel per second, which is ejected in the form of gas with
a velocity of u, constant relative to the rocket.
Determine the speed of the rocket when the fuel is exhausted, with the total fuel mass being mt , and the
total mass of the rocket at take-off being M . Air friction is neglected in this problem. Determine the altitude
of the rocket at the moment that the fuel is exhausted.
Values: M = 100 tons, u = 3000 m/s, mt = 80 tons, D = 500 kg/s

dP
P
Hint 1: (Newton’s second law): dt = F
R
Hint 2: ln(x)dx = x(ln(x) − 1) + constant