How does Newton's Third Law relate to how a rocket ascends under the power of its motor?

Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This principle is fundamental to understanding how rockets ascend when they are propelled by their motors.

In the context of a rocket, when the rocket motor burns fuel, it produces high-pressure gases that are expelled downwards at high speed. According to Newton's Third Law, the action of these gases being pushed downward creates an equal and opposite reaction that propels the rocket upwards. This interaction between the expelled gases and the rocket itself results in the acceleration of the rocket in the opposite direction to the flow of the gases.

Thus, the pressurized gases being expelled downward lead to the upward acceleration of the rocket, illustrating the law perfectly. This is what allows the rocket to ascend effectively against the forces of gravity, rather than relying on heat, aerodynamic lift, or the force of gravity to move upward.