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In Physics / High School | 2025-07-06

Two rockets burn fuel to give them the thrust needed to accelerate. As the fuel burns, the mass of the rocket gets smaller. Assuming that the rocket motors provide a constant thrust force, explain what will happen to the acceleration of the rocket as it burns its fuel.

Asked by khmkhm8102007

Answer (2)

As a rocket burns fuel, its mass decreases while the thrust force remains constant. This results in an increase in acceleration, following Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that acceleration is inversely proportional to mass when force is constant. Therefore, less mass leads to greater acceleration.
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Answered by Anonymous | 2025-07-06

As a rocket burns fuel, it loses mass. If the thrust remains constant, the acceleration of the rocket increases due to the relationship defined by Newton's Second Law of Motion. This means that less mass results in greater acceleration when a constant force is applied. ;

Answered by GinnyAnswer | 2025-07-06