Newton's second law for variable mass systems incorporates momentum flux terms alongside standard acceleration.
Newton's second law for variable mass systems, such as rockets or open continuum systems, must account for mass entering or leaving the system, which introduces explicit momentum flux (or relative velocity) terms alongside the standard acceleration term.
The claim addresses whether variable-mass formulations of Newton's second law incorporate momentum flux terms (often arising from ejected or accreting mass like in rockets). Papers [2], [6], and [11] explicitly discuss variable-mass mechanics, open systems, and how momentum flux or relative velocity terms must be included in the equations of motion. The other papers are off-topic or address unrelated physical domains.
Hans Irschik and, Helmut J Holl. Mechanics of variable-mass systems—Part 1: Balance of mass and linear momentum. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1687409
Paper [2] reviews the mechanical equations of balance for variable-mass systems within continuum mechanics, discussing how mass flowing through boundaries introduces momentum flux terms.
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J. Wolny, R. Strzałka. Momentum in the Dynamics of Variable-Mass Systems: Classical and Relativistic Case. 2018. https://doi.org/10.12693/APhysPolA.135.475
Paper [6] examines the dynamics of variable-mass systems and highlights how properly formulating Newton's second law requires accounting for the relative velocities and momentum fluxes of mass entering or leaving the system.
V. Vippala. A Brief Review on Equation of Motion of Variable Mass System. 2025. https://doi.org/10.47134/physics.v2i3.1723
Paper [11] reviews the equation of motion for variable mass systems and discusses how accounting for remnant and ejected masses leads to momentum-related terms in the dynamic equations.
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