Endless Facts, One Snippet at a Time
The Science of Rockets: Newton’s Laws in Action
- Rockets move by expelling gas backward, pushing the rocket forward.
- This is Newton’s Third Law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
- Combustion of fuel and oxidizer creates high-speed exhaust gases.
- Rockets carry their own oxygen, so they work in the vacuum of space.
- Multi-stage rockets drop weight to improve efficiency as they climb.
- Newton’s First Law explains why rockets keep moving once in space.
- Thrust must overcome gravity and drag for liftoff to occur.
- Rocket nozzles shape and accelerate exhaust for maximum push.
- Satellites, space probes, and astronauts all rely on rocket launches.
- Rockets showcase pure physics, turning explosive force into exploration.