A rocket achieves a high speed in empty space without the need for any external forces because it
A) circumvents the law of conservation of momentum.
B) retains only a portion of its original mass.
C) turns energy into momentum.
D) Nonsense! No material object can attain a high speed without an external force.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rockets operate on the principle of conservation of momentum. As they expel mass in the form of gas at high speed in one direction, they are propelled in the opposite direction. This process does not require an external force once the rocket is in motion; instead, it relies on the momentum exchange between the rocket and the expelled gas.

A Rocket Achieves a High Speed in Empty Space Without