UPSC CSE Prelims 2008
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct. A jet engine operates by drawing in atmospheric air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel, and igniting the mixture. The combustion process requires oxygen from the surrounding air. Since outer space is a vacuum devoid of atmospheric oxygen, jet engines cannot function outside an atmosphere, rendering them unsuitable for propulsion in space.
Statement 2 is correct. A rocket carries its own supply of both fuel and an oxidizer (such as liquid oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, or nitric acid). This self-contained system allows combustion to occur independently of an external atmosphere, enabling rockets to operate effectively in the vacuum of space. While the statement mentions "oxygen in the gas form," the fundamental principle is the internal supply of an oxidizer, which is crucial for rocket propulsion in space.
Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect because both Statement 1 and Statement 2 accurately describe the operational requirements and characteristics of jet engines and rockets, respectively.