The mass ratio of a rocket is defined to be the
A) mass of the empty rocket without fuel divided by the mass of the payload
B) mass of the fully fueled rocket divided by the mass of the rocket after the fuel is burned
C) mass of the rocket after the fuel is burned divided by the mass of the fully fueled rocket
D) mass of the fuel in the rocket divided by the mass of the rocket payload

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass ratio of a rocket is defined as the mass of the fully fueled rocket divided by the mass of the rocket after the fuel is burned. This is because during launch, the rocket burns fuel and loses mass, so the initial mass is the fully fueled rocket and the final mass is the rocket with no fuel left. This mass ratio plays an important role in determining the rocket's capability to reach a certain altitude or velocity.

The Mass Ratio of a Rocket Is Defined to Be