How does the Space Shuttle take off?
A)Its rocket engines push against the launch pad propelling the shuttle upwards.
B)It converts mass-energy to kinetic energy.
C)It achieves lift from its wings in the same way that airplanes do.
D)Hot gas shoots out from the rocket and,by conservation of momentum,the shuttle moves in the opposite direction.
E)The hot rocket exhaust expands the air beneath the shuttle,propelling it forward.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Space Shuttle takes off by the hot gas shooting out from the rockets and, by conservation of momentum, the shuttle moves in the opposite direction. This is known as Newton's third law of motion. The hot gases shooting out from the rocket create an equal and opposite reaction force, propelling the shuttle upward.

How Does the Space Shuttle Take Off