Derivation[edit]

There are different derivations for the variable-mass system motion equation, depending
on whether the mass is entering or leaving a body (in other words, whether the moving
body's mass is increasing or decreasing, respectively). To simplify calculations, all
bodies are considered as particles. It is also assumed that the mass is unable to apply
external forces on the body outside of accretion/ablation events.

Mass accretion[edit]