Hey Guys, I have a question about something you guys always use in your explanation of the science behind why something happens.

Sir Isaac Newton's third law of physics, every Action has an Equal and Opposite Reaction. I wonder, How does that apply to an Apache Helicopters firing its rockets?

The Apache can just fire a gun or a rocket while hovering. Applying Sir Isaac’s law, shouldn’t the helicopter move backwards? Should the helicopter have a sudden surge forward to counter the force of the rocket ignition? How can it fire multiple times without several jolts backwards?

Thank You for your time. You have a great show and I will continue to watch and encourage others to watch.

VTY,
John Beck

If the rockets were attached firmly to the helicoptor, then it would be pulled forward from the thrust. But the rockets are not attached, they are lose in the launch tube, held in only by hardware that releases them the moment they are ignited. When fired, the thrust propels the rocket out of the launcher. There may be some frictional drag from the rocket as it leaves, but the mass of the helocopter is so much greater than the mass of the rocket that the pull is not even felt by helicopter.