How does a rocket work in space?

Question

I was wondering sine space is vacuum? How does it propel itself and changes direction when there is no air to thrust itself?

Answer 1

Contrary to inexplicably popular belief, a rocket does not work by pushing against the surrounding air.

Think of an explosion inside a sealed box. The explosion, which is basically no more than a very rapid expansion of a compressed gas, pushes the box apart evenly in all directions. Now imagine that the same explosion takes place in a box that is open at the bottom. The explosion pushes against the sides of the box evenly, but the force against the top of the box is not balanced by any force against the bottom because the bottom isn't there to push against. Result: the box flies into the air because of the force of the expanding gas on the top. A rocket engine is essentially that box with a continuous series of explosions going off inside it.

Air actually makes rockets less efficient because of the drag it imparts, especially at the speeds a rocket can travel.

Answer 2

How A Space Rocket Works

Answer 3

It works because of Newton's Third Law of Motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The action, in this case, is the exhaust gas coming out of the engine. The reaction is the movement of the rocket in the opposite direction. The only difference between a rocket in space and a rocket in Earth's atmosphere is that the atmosphere is a source of friction and actually makes the rocket less efficient. It doesn't need the atmosphere to work.

Answer 4

Thrust is from exhaust rushing out of the engine nozzle - pushing the rocket in the other direction. (Releasing compressed gas thru the nozzle would also work, but at a relatively low thrust.) Fuels don't require air, but typically have two components that combust when brought into contact.

Answer 5

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The exhausting rocket gasses push against the inside of the rocket and propels it through space.

Answer 6

IT CARRIES IT'S OWN FUEL AND IT'S OWN OXIGEN TO BURN THE FUEL WITH. WHEN THE FUEL BURNS IT EXPANDS AND IS EXPELLED OUT THE BACK OF THE ROCKET AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE LAWS OF ACTION AND REACTION PROPEL THE ROCKET

Answer 7

it doesn t

Answer 8

i don't know