Final answer:
Rockets work by expelling gas backward, in line with Newton's third law of motion. Rocket fuels are often a mix of substances and create thrust when ignited. Rockets are more efficient in space as there is less air friction than in Earth's atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between water and air in the propulsion chamber of a rocket is not typically direct. Rockets move forward by expelling gas backward at high velocity. This operation is based on Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
It is a common misconception that rockets propel themselves by pushing on the ground or on the air behind them. They actually work better in a vacuum, where they can more readily expel the exhaust gases.
The rocket fuels often used are solid mixtures of substances or components like hydrogen and oxygen, which when combusted or combined in a carefully measured and ignited manner, generate large amounts of gaseous products, creating thrust that is used to propel the rocket.
The efficiency of rockets is greater in outer space than in Earth's atmosphere because the air in Earth's atmosphere, although it aids in the early stages of launch, eventually increases air friction and does not significantly assist in providing thrust.
Learn more about Rocket Propulsion