What Happens When a Rocket Leaves the Earth?

Most recent answer: 12/05/2014

Q:
Given that mass remains the same, what happens when something is removed from earth's atmosphere ie a rocket exiting earth to go into space? Is the resultant'hole filled in any way?
- Pat Godwin (age 59)
ALSTON
A:

Hi Pat,

Think of a fish jumping out of a lake and being gulped up by a gull.    The water level of the lake drops by a teeny tiny amount and not much else happens.    Same thing with the rocket.  The atmosphere adjusts itself appropriately and not much else happens.  

 

LeeH 


(published on 12/05/2014)