2006-06-05 17:56:40 · 6 answers · asked by broken_halo6six6 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Basics
When most people think about motors or engines, they think about rotation. For example, a reciprocating gasoline engine in a car produces rotational energy to drive the wheels. An electric motor produces rotational energy to drive a fan or spin a disk. A steam engine is used to do the same thing, as is a steam turbine and most gas turbines.
Rocket engines are fundamentally different. Rocket engines are reaction engines. The basic principle driving a rocket engine is the famous Newtonian principle that "to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." A rocket engine is throwing mass in one direction and benefiting from the reaction that occurs in the other direction as a result.
A rocket engine is generally throwing mass in the form of a high-pressure gas. The engine throws the mass of gas out in one direction in order to get a reaction in the opposite direction. The mass comes from the weight of the fuel that the rocket engine burns. The burning process accelerates the mass of fuel so that it comes out of the rocket nozzle at high speed. The fact that the fuel turns from a solid or liquid into a gas when it burns does not change its mass. If you burn a pound of rocket fuel, a pound of exhaust comes out the nozzle in the form of a high-temperature, high-velocity gas. The form changes, but the mass does not. The burning process accelerates the mass.
And that is how the rocket moves foward
2006-06-05 18:03:07 · answer #1 · answered by gospieler 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gasses ignite in the motor and expand, pushing exhaust out in back and the rocket forward.
2006-06-06 01:01:00 · answer #2 · answered by Philo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by the Newtons third principle of motion(Every action has a equal and opposite reaction).
Gases are dong the action and the reaction is that rocket moves the opposite direction the gases go.
2006-06-06 15:16:12 · answer #3 · answered by Bharat bhagat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the fuel produces fire at the bottom. by newton's third law every action has an equal and opposite reaction the rocket lifts up
2006-06-06 01:10:48 · answer #4 · answered by priyakiddy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kind of like a balloon being let go...that is a basic rocket powered by air.
2006-06-06 01:05:13 · answer #5 · answered by powhound 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't...it moves up. If it is moving forward, you are doing something wrong ;)
2006-06-06 01:02:48 · answer #6 · answered by opjames 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋