Which principle explains how rockets are propelled forward when fuel is ejected in the opposite direction?
Newton's Third Law of Motion
Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
In a rocket, burning fuel produces hot gases that are pushed out backward through the nozzle at high speed (action).
The gases push the rocket forward with an equal force (reaction), called thrust; this is also explained by conservation of momentum.
The First Law deals with inertia, conservation of mass with matter in reactions, and gravitation with attraction between masses, so none of them explains propulsion.
Hence, Newton's Third Law of Motion.
Similar Questions
A stone is moving in a circular path with constant speed. Which of the following statements about its motion is correct?
Which statement best explains Newton's Third Law of Motion?
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the principle of conservation of momentum?
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the principle of conservation of momentum?
Important Questions from Laws of Motion
Which of the following is correct?
I. The mass of an object is a measure of its inertia
II. In an isolated system the total momentum remains conserved
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- Why do passengers in a moving car tend to jerk forward when the brakes are suddenly applied?
