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In a simplified steady-thrust model, what happens to acceleration as a rocket burns propellant?

It increases, because the rocket keeps getting lighter.

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  1. It increases ✔
  2. It decreases
  3. It stays exactly the same

Why: Newton's second law says acceleration equals force divided by mass. Burning propellant reduces the rocket's mass, so the same thrust produces more acceleration in this simplified model.

Huh, didn't know that: Most of a big rocket's launch weight is propellant, so it gets much lighter during flight.

The dad joke
Rockets are the only things that speed up the more snacks they finish.
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References

Answer: It increases. Newton's second law says acceleration equals force divided by mass. Burning propellant reduces the rocket's mass, so the same thrust produces more acceleration in this simplified model.

  1. NASA Glenn, Rocket Principles www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/rocket/TRCRocket/rocket_principles.html
    acceleration of the rocket has to increase as its mass decreases.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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