On the water-rocket engine problem. A case study in mathematical modeling

The purpose of this note is to draw the attention of the un-dergraduate students in mathematics, phymws or engineering xciencts to firm possible steps in the practice of the mathematical modeling,. The proposed subject is an elementary one: A rocket engine. having as fuel only (pure) ideal water. is to be launched. For this to happen, a situnlicant amount. of the energy stored in the pressurized gas is converted into kinetic energy• of the rocket. See also. e.g.. .,2;, “3S, N. Several hypothetical activities provid-ing a certain insight to the physical setting arc given