Working mass Working mass Working mass, also referred to as reaction mass, is a mass against which a system operates in order to produce acceleration. In the case of a rocket, for example, the reaction mass is the fuel shot backwards to provide propulsion. All acceleration requires an exchange of momentum, which can be thought of as the "unit of movement". Momentum is related to mass and velocity, as given by the formula "P = mv," where "P" is the momentum, "m" the mass, and "v" the velocity. The velocity of a body is easily changeable, but in most cases the mass
Mass flow rate product is as follows. The only mass flowing "through" the cross-section is the amount normal to the area, i.e. parallel to the unit normal. This amount is: where "θ" is the angle between the unit normal formula_4 and the velocity of mass elements. The amount passing through the cross-section is reduced by the factor formula_5, as "θ" increases less mass passes through. All mass which passes in tangential directions to the area, that is perpendicular to the unit normal, "doesn't" actually pass "through" the area, so the mass passing through the area is zero. This occurs when "θ" = "π"/2: