©Professor Philip S.

Marcus
University of California, Berkeley

ME106
Homework 8

1
Consider a spacecraft with its rocket engine off. The spacecraft has mass M and is a cylinder of
length L and radius R. The spacecraft carries fuel with mass m, so that the total mass of the system
of spacecraft and fuel is (M + m). At all times, the velocity of the spacecraft is in a direction
parallel to the axis of the cylinder. (Let’s call it the z direction). The fuel tank is partly filled with
liquid fuel and partly with fuel vapor. The liquid fuel is sloshing back and forth in the z direction.
(Big blobs of fuel “drops” are banging back and forth in the vapor-filled cylinder.) In the moving
frame of the spacecraft, the “average” velocity of the fuel is vF sin(ωt), where t is time and ω is a
frequency whose value is known and is constant for time. The z-component of the momentum of the
fuel, as seen in the spacecraft’s moving frame, is m vF sin(ωt). There is no gravity in this problem.
Additionally, you can assume that the mass of fuel vapor inside of the spacecraft if negligibly small
relative to the total mass of fuel m.

(a) Determine the z-component of the velocity V (t) of the spacecraft (as seen in the non-
moving, inertial frame) such that at t = 0, the velocity of the spacecraft in the z direction
is V̂ . Note that the spacecraft has non-constant velocity (that is, it is accelerating in time due
to the fuel sloshing). Remember that you are free to use control volumes for mass in a steady
frame, in a frame moving with a constant velocity, and in a frame with a non-constant velocity.
Remember also that you are free to use control volumes for momentum in a steady frame and
in a frame moving with a constant velocity. However, if you choose a control volume moving
with a non-constant velocity, “funny” new terms appear in the momentum-balance equation
that are not discussed in most classes in fluid dynamics.

(b) Now consider the same problem where the radial boundary of the spacecraft (but not the end
plates that are perpendicular to the z-axis) are slightly porous to vapor. Vapor boils away and
is continuously ejected radially outward from the spacecraft with a velocity with a non-zero
radial component. The azimuthal and z-components of the velocity of this escaping vapor
are zero as observed by someone in the frame of the accelerating spacecraft. The mass of
the fuel inside the spacecraft is decreasing at a constant rate of ṁ(t). Now find an ordinary
differential equation in time for the velocity V (t) of the spacecraft in terms of ṁ(t), and
other given parameters. Assume that the rate of escaping vapor is uniform on the entire
radial surface of the spacecraft. It is not necessary to solve the equation. Hint: Note that the
rate of change of the momentum in the control volume is due to both a change in velocity and
a change in mass.
Page 2 of 8 (3 problems)

(c) Now consider the same spacecraft with the same leaking fuel vapor. The fuel is still escaping
uniformly over the radial boundary of the spacecraft (with no loss at the end plates) How-
ever, now the fuel vapor’s velocity as it leaves the spacecraft is not moving only in the radial
direction as it escapes radially the spacecraft as observed by someone in the frame of the ac-
celerating spacecraft. Now the escaping fuel velocity also has an azimuthal component as
it leaves the spacecraft at radius R, and the magnitudes of the azimuthal component and of
the radial component of the escaping velocity are equal at the moment the vapor escapes the
spacecraft as observed by someone moving in the z direction in the frame of the accelerating
spacecraft. This escaping fuel causes the spacecraft to start to spin around its z-axis. How-
ever, we don’t want you to compute that spin. Instead, find the new ordinary differential
equation for the velocity V (t) of the spacecraft in the z direction.
Page 3 of 8 (3 problems)

2
Consider the cart in the figure below.

Figure 1: Figure for problem 2.

′ (t) x̂ (as seen by an observer in the inertial

The cart is moving from left to right with a velocity Vcart
frame or rest frame of the ground), which increases (accelerates) as a function of time. A tilde is
used for quantities in the accelerating frame of the cart. We shall use the notation that a quantity
in the inertial frame has a prime for a superscript, and in a uniformly moving frame the quantity
is written without a prime or tilde. In this problem, the uniformly moving frame will always be
defined as moving with respect to the inertial frame with the velocity Vcart′ (t0 ) of the cart at time
′ ′ ′ ′
t0 . Thus, for any velocity, V = V − Vcart (t0 ) and Ṽ = V − Vcart (t).

In the inertial frame, the back end of the cart it at x′ = a′ (t). There is a pump in the cart that
shoots water out the back end at x′ = a′ (t) through an exhaust pipe of cross-sectional area Awater
at a constant velocity (as viewed in the accelerating frame of the moving cart) −|Ṽwater | x̂. We
shall ignore gravity in this problem. Therefore the column of water exiting the exhaust pipe is
always horizontal, regardless of what frame we are using. In the accelerating frame, the velocity
of the horizontal column of water leaving the pump is Ṽcolumn (x′ , t) = Vcolumn
′ (x′ , t) − Vcart
′ (t),
Page 4 of 8 (3 problems)

and in the uniformly moving frame the velocity of the water in the column is Vcolumn (x′ , t) =
′
Vcolumn (x′ , t) − Vcart
′ (t ). By subtraction of these two equations, we see that
0

Ṽcolumn (x′ , t) = Vcolumn (x′ , t) + Vcart

′ ′
(t0 ) − Vcart (t). (1)
We were effectively told above that
Ṽcolumn a′ (t), t ≡ −|Ṽwater |,


(2)
for all time t, where Ṽwater is constant in time. Therefore, combining eqs. (1) and (2) and setting
x′ = a′ (t) gives
−|Ṽwater | = Vcolumn a′ (t), t + Vcart
′ ′


(t0 ) − Vcart (t). (3)
Setting t = t0 in eq. (3), we obtain
−|Ṽwater | = Vcolumn a′ (t0 ), t0 = Vcolumn (0, t0 ).


(4)

The density ρwater of the water is constant, and the mass of water stored in the cart is Mwater (t),
which is a decreasing function of time t.

As the cart moves from left to right, it reels in a copper cable of density ρcopper with cross-sectional
area Acopper that is lying at rest (when viewed in the inertial frame) on the ground. The cart gathers
up the copper cable onto a take-up reel (similar to the kind of take-up reel you use to wind up a
garden hose) within the cart. The mass of the copper cable on the cart is Mcopper (t), which is an
increasing function of time t. You may assume that there is no friction in the process of taking up
the copper cable, and you may assume that the cable has no tension or drag force on the cart, and
the cable is never dragged along the ground; it is cleanly lifted up onto the reel. The take-up reel
has a weak spring in it that winds the cable onto the reel such that there is no slack in the cable.
Answer the questions below using a control volume that is in the inertial frame, i.e., the rest frame
of the ground. At time t0 make the left side of the control volume at x′ = a′ (t0 ) ≡ 0. (Think of the
control volume we used to analyze a rocket, and remember that we must have use a control volume
in a non-accelerating frame to analyze momentum balance.) The right side of the control volume is
at x′ = L (for all time), but the control volume is large enough so that no part of the cart leaves the
control volume during the time that you are analyzing the problem. The reel that winds up the cable
is located on the extreme right side of the cart at x′ = b′ (t).

Hint: Do yourself a favor in keeping track of signs by using equation (9) from Lecture 18:
J
X
˙ k=
Mom ρj (vk )j (vj · n̂j )(area)j + external forces in direction k, (5)
j=1

where the sums are over the discrete areas (area)j of the entrances and exits, k is the “accounting”
direction, and vk is the dot product of the velocity of the entering/exiting mass with the unit vector
in the “accounting” direction.
Page 5 of 8 (3 problems)

(a) Let the mass of the water in the bottom of the cart at time 0 be Mwater (0). What is Mwater (t)
for t > 0? Note that this is generally not the mass of the water in the control volume, which
also includes the mass of the water in the horizontal column.

(b) Let the mass of the copper cable in the cart (on the take-up reel) at time 0 be Mcopper (0). What
is Mcopper (t) for t > 0? You may express your answer in terms of the unknown velocity of
′ (t).
the cart Vcart

(c) The momentum in the x direction of the cart is changing in time (as seen in the inertial frame
of the recommended control volume shown in the figure). Ignore the mass of the cart and
take-up reel (but not the wire on the reel). Write down expressions for the momentum due to:

1) the exiting water between the water pump’s exit at a′ (t) and the left side of the control
volume at x′ = 0 (don’t take the limit yet of a′ → 0),
2) the water in the cart with mass Mwater (t),
3) the copper wire on the take-up reel, and
4) the copper wire between the take-up reel at x′ = b′ (t) and the right side of the control
volume at x′ = L (don’t take the limit yet of b′ → L).

(d) Find the time derivatives of the the four momenta found in part c and evaluate them at time
t0 . (After finding the derivatives, you can and should take the limits a′ → 0 and b′ → L.)

(e) What are the external forces in the x direction on the cart? (ignore drag, friction, etc.)

(f) What is the rate at which x-momentum enters/leaves the left side of the control volume?

(g) What is the rate at which x-momentum enters/leaves the right side of the control volume?
′ (t). You can assume that the only momenta are the four
(h) Find a differential equation for Vcart
listed in part c).
Page 6 of 8 (3 problems)

3
Firewomen and firemen must be strong. Figure 2 shows two firepeople holding a hose horizontal
with respect to the ground with a nozzle that is putting out water with a rate of mass per unit time) of
Ṁ . The mass density of water is ρ. How strong are the firepeople handling the hose? In particular,
consider the schematic of the firehose in Figure 3. The hose has a round, uniform cross-sectional
area A. The hose is attached to a nozzle such that the nozzle puts out a stream of water with a
round cross-sectional area a. The hose has two bends in it, each with angle θ, as shown in Figure 3.
Assume there is no viscosity and that when the hose is lying on the ground that there is no friction
between the ground and the hose. Also, assume that in regions where the hose is horizontal to the
ground that the fabric from which the hose is made (which is massless) is not transmitting any hor-
izontal forces. That is, there is no horizontal tension force in the fabric of the hose in regions where
is is horizontal to the ground. However, when the hose is not horizontal, the fabric can transmit a
tension force T. The firepeople, represented in Figure 3 as a thick vertical line between the ground
and the firehose, are holding the hose with a force F so that the hose is stationary and so that is
is not sliding along the ground or moving in any manner. Express you answers to the questions
below in terms of Ṁ , A, a, ρ, Patm , g, and θ, where Patm is the atmospheric pressure and g is the
acceleration due to gravity. Your answers do not need to include all of these parameters, but should
not include any others. Indicate any approximations (if any) that you need to express your answers
this way. Use one or more control volumes to answer the questions. Use the Bernoulli equation if
you need to. The x-axis is coincident with the centerline of the nozzle.

Figure 2: Figure for problem 4. Firepeople holding a firehose so that its nozzle and the part of the
hose that they are holding are horizontal to the ground. The mass flux of water of density ρ leaving
end of the nozzle is Ṁ . See the schematic in Figure 3 for details.
Page 7 of 8 (3 problems)

Figure 3: Figure for problem 4. Schematic of the previous figure. The cross-sectional of the hose is
A and of the nozzle is a with a < A. The schematic shows the segment of the hose attached to the
nozzle is horizontal to the ground as is the segment of the hose on the left side of the schematic and
as is the nozzle. The middle segment of the hose is at an angle θ with respect to the ground. The
left segment of the hose is lying on the ground. The firepeople are represented with a thick vertical
line between the ground and the firehose. They are holding the hose with a force F so that the hose
is stationary.

(a) Figure for problem 4a and for problem 4e. For (b) Figure for problem 4b, with θ = 90◦ . Use
problem 4a, set θ = 0◦ . Use the control volume in the control volume in red to obtain you answers.
red to obtain you answers. Do not forget to include Do not forget to include the effect of the pressure
the effect of the pressure forces. forces.

(d) Figure for problem 4d. The control volume is

shown in the blue and red box. The left segment
(c) Figure for problem 4c. The control volume is of the hose is lying on the ground. The blue piece
shown with a red box. The left segment of the hose of the control volume is at a right angle (90◦ ) with
is lying on the ground. respect to the hose that it intersects.

Figure 4
Page 8 of 8 (3 problems)

(a) Consider the case when θ = 0. Find the velocity of the water leaving the nozzle and find the
x-component of F. Hint: Use the red control volume in Figure 4a.

(b) Consider the case when θ = 90◦ , Find the velocity of the water leaving the nozzle and find
the x-component of F. Hint: Use the red control volume in Figure 4b.

(c) Consider the control volume shown in red in Figure 4c with θ ̸= 0. Explain how the forces
and momentum fluxes in the x-direction balance such that hose within the control volume
can be in stationary equilibrium without any frictional force from the ground. List all the
necessary assumption(s) in order for this force-and-momentum-flux balance to be held true,
and please carry this(these) assumption(s) forward in the later parts of this problem.

(d) Consider the control volume shown in red and blue in Figure 4d with θ ̸= 0. The firehose
within the control volume is in stationary equilibrium. What are the x-components of the
tension forces T from the fabric of the hose on either side of the control volume exerted
on the hose within the control volume? Hint: you were told that that the horizontal tension
exerted by the fabric on the left side of the control volume is zero because that segment of the
hose is horizontal.

(e) Consider the firehose in Figures 2 and 3 when 0 ≤ θ ≤ 90◦ . Find the x-component of F as a
function of θ. Is your answer consistent with parts (a) and (b)? Figure 4a makes it look like
the x-component of F is independent of the value of θ. But are the x-components of F the
same for the cases when θ = 90◦ and θ = 0◦ ? Please explain this apparent paradox if the the
answer to the last question is “no”.