How do action-reaction pairs explain how a rocket lifts off?

Answer 1

As a rocket burns fuel, it expels exhaust gases. When the gases are forced out of the rocket, they exert an equal and opposite force on the rocket. A rocket can rise into the air because the gases it expels with a downward force exert an equal but opposite force on the rocket. As long as this upward pushing force, called thrust, is greater than the downward pull of gravity, there is a net force in the upward direction. As a result, the rocket accelerates upwards.

-information from Prentice Hall, Science Explorer: Physical Science

Answer 2

When the rocket expels gases with high velocity downward, an equal and opposite force is generated, pushing the rocket in the opposite direction due to Newton's third law of motion. This action-reaction pair creates the propulsion needed for the rocket to lift off.