ELI5: how do rockets work
// explanation
What is a rocket?
A rocket is like a big tube filled with fuel that shoots hot gas out the bottom really fast [4]. When you push something out the bottom super hard, it pushes the rocket up into the sky โ just like if you blow up a balloon and let it go, it zooms around the room [3].
Why does it go up?
Rockets work by burning fuel, which creates super hot gases that expand and want to escape [4]. When all that hot gas pushes down and out the bottom of the rocket really hard, it pushes the rocket up the other way [1].
What makes it powerful?
The fuel and a special ingredient called an oxidant mix together and have a controlled explosion inside the rocket engine [3]. This explosion makes lots of hot gas very quickly, and all that gas pushing down makes the rocket shoot up into space [2].
How does it get to space?
Rockets have so much fuel that they can burn for a long time and push themselves higher and higher until they get above most of Earth's air [2]. Once you're high enough, there's barely any air pushing back, so the rocket can coast into space [1].
// sources
In rocket flight, forces become balanced and unbalanced all the time. A rocket on the launch pad is balanced. The surface of the pad pushes the rocket up whileย ...
We launch things into space by putting them on rockets with enough fuel โ called propellant โ to boost them above most of Earth's atmosphereย ...
Jun 30, 2021 ... A rocket generates thrust using a controlled explosion as the fuel and oxidant undergo a violent chemical reaction. Expanding gases from theย ...
Jul 13, 2011 ... How Does a Rocket Engine Work? Like most engines, rockets burn fuel. Most rocket engines turn the fuel into hot gas. The engine pushes the gasย ...
Apr 8, 2022 ... The first rocket multiplies whatever your buildings are producing x10. The second rocket increases the modifier to x20, but the modifier still only applies toย ...
Video by National Geographic
Video by Science ABC
Video by Peekaboo Kidz
