What are rockets pushing against in space?

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In order to move, you have to apply an equal force to something else, right? So how can rockets move in space where there are no particles?

In: Physics

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Rockets don’t push against anything. They throw burning gas behind them. If you apply newton’s third law of motion to the situation then the effect of throwing the gas out behind the rocket applies the same force to the rocket in the opposite direction, causing it to accelerate.

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