If there is no friction in space how can space ships get propulsion?

Answer 1

Well simple really, because there is no friction in space once a mass is in motion it will remain in motion. Newtons law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction is applied here. A plant for instances is in motion and will remain in motion do to there being no friction, This is known as stellar drift are moon for instances is drifting away from are plant this is do to three things, 1 mass in motion, 2 gravitational pull, and 3rd but not least no friction to stop it from drifting. So lets apply this to a space ship, it fires it last burst of thrust newtons thirded law is now applied, now in till the ship hits something it will stay in motion do to no friction in space.

Answer 2

As a lot of other people have said, the short answer is Newton's Third Law of Motion: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." The somewhat longer, but more in depth and rigorous answer is that rocket propulsion works because of the law of conservation of momentum.

The momentum of something in physics is basically defined as it's mass times it's velocity. So, if you have two objects, A and B, and they have the same mass, but object A is moving twice as fast as object B, then A will have twice the momentum as B. If they're moving at the same speed, but object B is twice as heavy as A, then B will have twice the momentum of A. The law of conservation of momentum basically says that if you add up the momentums of a set of objects at some starting time which only interact, hit, or apply forces on each other and aren't affected by anything else, then do the same thing at some later time, the total summed up momentum will remain the same.

So, what does this mean for rockets? Well, a rocket works by taking its fuel, burning it, and allowing the very hot burnt fuel escape in some particular direction. So, if the rocket starts at rest (e.g. it's not moving), and then turns on, it will start shooting out exhaust in some direction (out the nozzle...). This exhaust has some mass/weight, and because it's moving, it has some momentum. But because the rocket (and the fuel inside it) started out with no speed, and thus no momentum, the momentum of the exhaust must be equal and opposite in direction to the new momentum of the rocket. Thus, the rocket starts moving.

As a similar example, if you have access to a chair with wheels on its legs and something pretty heavy (for instance, a backpack full of books), sit on the chair holding the heavy object with your feet off the ground and then throw the heavy object in some direction. You will start moving in the opposite direction. Of course, you come to a stop because of friction, but in space, there is basically no friction, so spaceships which fire their engines don't stop after a few minutes but instead keep on going until something stops them (firing their engines in the opposite direction, an asteroid, etc... :) ).

Answer 3

Like the guy said for each reaction there is an equal opposite reaction. Rocket engines are basically explosions with all the force excaping only from one point. The force on the sides of the rocket are held in check by the walls of the rocket engines. So, they cancel each other out. The force coming out of the rear of the engine causes the ship to move forward because the force only escapes form the rear and the opposing force moves the ship forward. Propulsion. Blow up a balloon. Release it. Same concept.

Answer 4

The rocket burns and releases energy out the back end to create thrust. No friction needed

Answer 5

For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. Read up on Isaac Newton.

Answer 6

Newton already answered this question:

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Fiction only serves to convert some of this action and reaction to heat, it doesn't need to be present at all for the phenomenon to take place.

Answer 7

Newton's 3rd Law

Answer 8

its called a warp drive beeyach!!!!