Rocket speed from mass and impulse

The Tsiolkovsky formula determines the speed that an aircraft develops under the influence of the thrust of a rocket engine, unchanged in direction, in the absence of all other forces.

Links:

1. Wikipedia.

speed_change

Maximum change in speed of the rocket.

Symbol:

Delta(v)

Latex:

\(\Delta v\)

Dimension:

velocity

effective_exhaust_speed

Effective exhaust speed, or specific impulse (i.e. impulse per unit mass). See this Wikipedia paragraph for more information.

Symbol:

v_e

Latex:

\(v_\text{e}\)

Dimension:

velocity

initial_mass

Initial mass of the rocket.

Symbol:

m_0

Latex:

\(m_{0}\)

Dimension:

mass

final_mass

Final mass of the rocket.

Symbol:

m_1

Latex:

\(m_{1}\)

Dimension:

mass

law

Delta(v) = v_e * log(m_0 / m_1)

Latex:

\[\Delta v = v_\text{e} \log \left( \frac{m_{0}}{m_{1}} \right)\]