From: dietz@dls.net   
      
   maury.markowitz@gmail.com wrote:   
      
   > So my question question is this: how much of the thrust of the engine   
   > is due to the momentum contained in the oxygen? Is it what pops to mind   
   > immediately, namely 1/8th? If this is the case, then it would seem that   
   > the increase in Isp would more than make up for the loss in thrust. Is   
   > this correct?   
      
   To first approximation, the thrust of a rocket depends on the chamber   
   pressure, throat area, and expansion ratio, and is independent of the   
   molecular weight or temperature of the gas (those affect the specific   
   impulse, of course).  The ratio of specific heats affects both thrust   
   and Isp.   
      
   	Paul   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)