A rocket launching is an example of Newton’s __ law.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Newton’s Third Law
A rocket launching is a clear example of Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
When a rocket launches, fuel inside the rocket combusts and produces high-pressure gas. These gases are expelled forcefully downward through the rocket’s engines. This action force of gas being pushed downward creates an equal and opposite reaction force that propels the rocket upward into the sky.
This phenomenon occurs because the rocket engines direct the combustion gases in a downward direction. According to Newton’s Third Law, this downward action must be met with an equal force in the opposite direction — upward. As a result, the rocket accelerates upward against the force of gravity.
It’s important to understand that the rocket does not push against the ground or air to lift off. Instead, the propulsion comes from the internal reaction of expelling gas — the rocket pushes the exhaust gas down, and in return, the exhaust gas pushes the rocket up. This is why rockets can work in the vacuum of space, where there is no air — the law still holds true because it is based on the interaction between the rocket and the gases it expels, not the surrounding environment.
In contrast, Newton’s First Law describes motion staying the same unless acted on by an external force, and the Second Law relates force, mass, and acceleration. While both are also involved in aspects of rocket motion, the launch itself — the upward thrust in response to downward exhaust — is best explained by Newton’s Third Law.
Thus, a rocket launch is a perfect real-world demonstration of how forces always come in pairs, reinforcing the fundamental principle of Newton’s Third Law.