If there is no friction in space, then how does the space shuttle boost?
According to Newton's law we move by pushing something; in space, there is vacuum, so how the space shuttle moves without friction?
Asked
Active
Viewed 793 times
3
-
3Short answer: it moves forwards by casting fuel backwards – John Dvorak Jan 12 '15 at 17:29
-
2Do you mean "if there is no friction in space?" – Brionius Jan 12 '15 at 17:29
-
2possible duplicate of Rocket/Thrust/Gas/Free Expansion of Gas – John Rennie Jan 12 '15 at 17:30
-
Space isn't really a vacuum, though the number density of particles is significantly less than what we have in our atmosphere. – Kyle Kanos Jan 12 '15 at 17:38
-
1Related: http://physics.stackexchange.com/q/158750/2451 – Qmechanic Jan 12 '15 at 18:07
1 Answers
4
It moves by throwing matter in the direction opposite to the direction it intends to move along. (in this case, it ejects its fuel.) Applying the Law of Conservation of Momentum should make it simple enough now.
Hritik Narayan
- 7,318
- 3
- 33
- 46