Variable-mass system events. The following derivation is for a body that is gaining mass (accretion). A body of time-varying mass "m" moves at a velocity v at an initial time "t". In the same instant, a particle of mass dm moves with velocity u. The initial momentum can be written as Now at a time "t" + d"t", let both the main body and the particle accrete into a body of velocity v + dv. Thus the new momentum of the system can be written as Since d"m"dv is the product of two small values, it can be ignored, meaning during d"t"
Escape velocity a body that falls under the force of gravitational attraction of mass "M", from infinity, starting with zero velocity, will strike the massive object with a velocity equal to its escape velocity given by the same formula. When given an initial speed formula_2 greater than the escape speed formula_3 the object will asymptotically approach the "hyperbolic excess speed" formula_4 satisfying the equation: In these equations atmospheric friction (air drag) is not taken into account. A rocket moving out of a gravity well does not actually need to attain escape velocity to escape, but could achieve the same result (escape) at