Mometrix TEAS 7 science practice test Related

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A rocket engine expels hot gases backwards. What principle explains the rocket's forward motion?

  • A. Newton's first law of motion
  • B. Newton's second law of motion
  • C. Newton's third law of motion
  • D. Law of conservation of energy
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of a rocket engine expelling hot gases backwards, the action is the expulsion of gases, and the reaction is the forward motion of the rocket. The hot gases being expelled act as the action force, propelling the rocket in the opposite direction as the reaction force, resulting in the rocket's forward motion. Newton's first law of motion (Choice A) pertains to inertia, stating that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. Newton's second law of motion (Choice B) relates force, mass, and acceleration, which is not directly applicable to the scenario of a rocket engine propulsion. The law of conservation of energy (Choice D) is a fundamental principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be transformed, which does not directly explain the forward motion of the rocket in this context.