Eli5 how decreasing the diameter of the nozzle (of a rocket for example) makes the rocket go faster? It’s still the same amount of gas exiting the rocket no matter the diameter, so why is there a difference?
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A rocket is pushed by throwing hot gas out the back. From the rocket’s perspective, this means having a container full of high-pressure gas with a hole at one end. This hole means that the pressure does not push as much on that side and there is an overall force forward.
Even with the same amount of fuel being used, the higher the pressure in that reaction chamber, the more the rocket gets pushed. A smaller hole requires higher pressure to allow the same amount of gas to escape, and so it means more overall pushing in the end.
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