Specific Impulse
In the context of aerospace engineering, Specific Impulse (often denoted as Isp) is a measure of the efficiency of rocket and jet engines. It represents the force with respect to the amount of propellant used per unit time. If the 'amount' of propellant is given by mass (kilogram, slug), then specific impulse has units of velocity. If it is given per unit weight (newton, pound), then specific impulse has units of time (seconds). The higher the specific impulse, the lower the propellant flow rate required for a given thrust, and in the case of a rocket, the less propellant is needed for a given delta-v, per the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation. Specific impulse is a key parameter in evaluating the performance of propulsion systems and plays a pivotal role in the design and operation of rockets and jet engines.
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