Right—looking at energy change of the exhaust explains the initial question in the post: why energy is preserved when a rocket accelerates, despite apparently expending the same amount of fuel for every unit of acceleration (assuming small fuel mass compared to rocket). Note that this doesn’t depend on a gravity well—this question is well posed, and well answered (by looking at the rocket + exhaust system) in classical physics without gravity. The Oberth phenomenon is related but different I think
The Oberth phenomenon is related but different I think
Yes, I think that if you (in addition to the speed thing) also take into account the potential energy of the exhaust, that accounts for the full Oberth effect.
Right—looking at energy change of the exhaust explains the initial question in the post: why energy is preserved when a rocket accelerates, despite apparently expending the same amount of fuel for every unit of acceleration (assuming small fuel mass compared to rocket). Note that this doesn’t depend on a gravity well—this question is well posed, and well answered (by looking at the rocket + exhaust system) in classical physics without gravity. The Oberth phenomenon is related but different I think
Yes, I think that if you (in addition to the speed thing) also take into account the potential energy of the exhaust, that accounts for the full Oberth effect.