Just wondering... Further, how do rocket engines work in space if there is nothing out there to push off of.
2007-05-25 06:07:15 · 11 answers · asked by Aaron S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Gunpowder uses Potassium Nitrate as an oxidizer. So a cartridge does not require oxygen from the air to ignite.
Rocket engines do not require an outside object to push against. A rocket engine is based upon Newton's Third Law of Motion which states, "That for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." In the case of a rocket engine the burning of fuel creates an expanding gas. The engine directs the expanding gas so that it exits out the funnel in the rocket engine pushing the gas into space. The gas flying out of the engine into space is the "action". The equal and opposite "reaction" is the forward motion of the spaceship.
2007-05-25 06:19:56 · answer #1 · answered by pdq 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can fire a gun in space. Everything you need to create the explosion is right there in the cartridge.
Rocket engines which use liquid fuel contain Liquid Oxygen in one tank and Rocket Fuel of a very special blend in another tank. Combine the two and you get rapidly expanding gas which is fed out the rear of the engine as "thrust." The thrust creates propulsion in the opposite direction which propels the rocket forward (we hope).
2007-05-25 13:58:19 · answer #2 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bullets do not need external oxygen to fire.
Rocket engines work because the inertia does not require a medium for the exhaust to be pushing against.
If you are sitting on a swing and move your arm from side to side very fast, your body will react to that by spinning in the opposite direction. it has nothing to do with the air around you. If you think it does, move your arm up and down and see if you move anywhere near as much.
2007-05-25 06:14:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
certain, your gun will fireplace in outer area. The chemical reaction of the smokeless powder that produces the nice and cozy gasses to propel the bullet require no outdoors air. The oxygen mandatory for the reaction are produced with the help of the reactants themselves. it extremely is why it really is likewise achieveable to fireplace a gun underwater. one element you'll see is that as gravity is decreased,the trajectory will flatten and the bullet will flow a lot farther. also, considering that air drag has a stated outcome on a bullet's performance, once you get rid of or cut back the density of the gas interior which it has to flow, the trajectory will flatten. Theoretically, in case you fired a gun in outer area, till the bullet encountered the outcome of gravity of a few large .merchandise, mutually with a planet, superstar or moon, the bullet might want to flow on for eternity. this is because of the shortcoming of density of any medium interior which it would want to might want to bypass and a finished lack of gravity to act on the bullet.
2016-11-27 02:43:34 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmmmm...i dont know. but as silly as it sounds, i don't think you need oxygen to.....never mind...im stumped...that's a cool question....im gonna go find out about that!
but as far as rockets go, it takes very little energy to get a space craft in zero gravity moving. the fuel for retro rockets is self contained and a very small force from said rocket sends the craft in the appropriate direction.....but that fuel aint gun powder now is it?
2007-05-25 06:19:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked a similar question about mounting a naval gun on a space ship. A muzzleloader would not fire but a self-contained cartridge would auctually be enhanced in lethality due to lack of air resistance or gravity!
2007-05-25 09:17:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure you can! The primer already contains a suitable mixture of chemicals, including the crucial Oxygen. It detonates purely because of pressure (pulling the trigger, causing the hammer to strike the back of the bullet).
2007-05-25 06:11:20 · answer #7 · answered by tastywheat 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Bullets are self contained. You don't need anything but the bullet to shoot.. Rockets don't push ff anything. Check Newton's Third law
2007-05-25 06:13:35 · answer #8 · answered by Gene 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The oxygen is self contained in the primer and only needs pressure from the trigger release to fire.
2007-05-25 06:11:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
No.
As far as a rocket. There are separate tanks. One is fuel and the other is oxygen. It burns by combining the two.
2007-05-25 06:16:53 · answer #10 · answered by WWJD 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋