Expert: Mark Janus - 11/11/2007

Question
would the rocket action still occur if there were no surrounding air??

Answer
Maria,

A rocket operates off of the principle of action and reaction...  a rocket "ejects" exhaust gases at a very high speed, this "action" is balanced by the reaction of the rocket moving in the opposite direction...  and thus a rocket does not depend on the surrounding air...actually the surrounding air causes a drag on the rocket that it does not experience in space...

Thank you for your question,
mj