reaction propulsion
- noun
- Specialized
:
propulsión por reacción
- Most modern rockets use reaction propulsion to launch spacecraft into orbit.
Examples
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The principle of reaction propulsion is explained by Newton's third law of motion.
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The rocket uses reaction propulsion to reach space.
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Research in reaction propulsion has led to advances in both aviation and space travel.
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NASA's new spacecraft relies on reaction propulsion for its journey.
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Most modern rockets use reaction propulsion to launch spacecraft into orbit.
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NASA's new spacecraft relies on reaction propulsion for its journey.
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The principle of reaction propulsion is explained by Newton's third law of motion.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound meaning is directly compositional: combining 'reaction' (a force equal and opposite to an action) with 'propulsion' (a driving force) yields 'propulsion produced by reaction forces', so the overall sense can be inferred from the parts. Although somewhat technical, the logic is straightforward and matches common cross‑linguistic patterns for labelling types of propulsion, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should comprehend it.
Etymology
Reaction propulsion comes from the simple image of a balloon letting out air: when the air rushes one way, the balloon moves the other way. That's why the phrase describes engines, like rockets, that move by 'pushing' mass out the back to go forward.
