Since vehicals in outer space move by propusion engines,what do they push against?

Answer 1

The force of the exhaust gas rushing backwards pushes the rocket forwards.

Answer 2

They don't push against anything. The principle that causes them to move forward is the conservation of momentum. Momentum is mass x velocity, so the momentum of the mass of fuel being propelled backwards must be matched by the equal and opposite force of the mass of the spaceship being propelled forwards. Much like if you were to push someone if you were standing on very slippy ice-it wouldn't be the air behind them pushing on them that would cause you to slide away or fall over in the opposite direction! This is actually more efficient in space than on earth because no energy is lost from the system through friction or drag forces.

Answer 3

If you think the Space Shuttle is pushing against the ground all the way to space, you probably will have trouble understanding propulsion. If you are in space and you fling matter (exhaust) in one direction, you will be pushed in the other direction. With no resistance, the amount of matter that needs to be expelled to cause an equal but opposite reaction can be as little as a fart and if sustained could push a vehicle up to a high speed, eventually.

Answer 4

As the exhaust rushes out of the engine, it also pushes the rocket or spacecraft forward because of Newton's law which states for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. In simple terms, a rocket works the same way as an inflated balloon when you let go of it. When the air rushes out of it, or the mass of the propellants are expelled in one direction, the balloon or rocket is pushed in the opposite direction. However, a chemically fueled rocket carries both fuel and an oxidizer because neither exists in outer space. A nuclear or ion rocket engine simply needs "working mass" to expel from a nozzle or thrust chamber to achieve the same result.

Answer 5

inertia from the the inside of the engine. Newton said that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

the firing of the engine creates the push against the back side of the engine forcing the energy out of the opening which in turn sends the rocket in the opposite direction.... forward...

Answer 6

The 'Ions' particals are excited by electrins and then are forced out through the thrusters, and the Ions then push against the matter that makes up Space. At first the craft slowley moves and over time speeds up, to alter direstion the thrusters are swiveled to the opposit possition on the craft so pushing it fromn the right to turn left, and vice versa for turning right. as for stopping there are thrusters on the front which kick in when needed.

Answer 7

What would happen if you and some other guy floating in space pushed each other? You'd both go backwards, right? Rockets are the same thing. They push gas out their rear ends really fast and pushing that gas pushes the rocket forward.

Answer 8

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Since none of the force of the expulsion of gases is required to move atmosphere, all of the force is available to the propulsion. It pushes the ship, and since there is nothing stopping it the other way, all the energy is dispersed between the ship and the gas ejection.

Answer 9

This is the same principle as rocket motion:

Say you're floating around in space and you have a big wrench in your hand. If you throw the wrench, by the conservation of momentum, you will get a push in the opposite direction.
This is the same thing as the recoil when you fire a gun. Spaceships are sort of recoiling from their exhaust.

Answer 10

The explosive force from the ignited fuel pushes against the spacecraft.