A rocket is heavier than a bus, yet it zooms all the way up into space! How is that even possible?
In this Spark you'll discover the secret push that lifts rockets, play with a balloon rocket, and even launch your own! Tap Next to begin. 👉
Two forces fight over every rocket. Tap each card to find out who they are.
Blow up a balloon and let it go — it shoots across the room! A rocket flies the same way. Tap the button to release the air.
A scientist named Newton noticed: every push makes an equal push the opposite way. Rocket engines burn fuel and blast hot gas downward…
🔥⬇️ so the rocket is pushed 🚀⬆️
Quick check: If a rocket shoots its hot gas straight down, which way does the rocket go?
The rocket is heavy. Slide the engine power up until the thrust beats gravity, then press Launch. Too little power and it won't budge!
Carrying heavy fuel tanks is hard work. So big rockets are built in stages — once a tank is empty, the rocket drops it to get lighter and faster. Tap the rocket to drop each empty stage!
Now you know the secret of how rockets fly. Here's everything you learned:
🪢 Two forces: gravity pulls down, thrust pushes up.
🎈 Balloon trick: push air one way → fly the other way.
🔥 Newton's idea: blast hot gas DOWN, and the rocket goes UP.
🎚️ Beat gravity: thrust must be stronger than the rocket's weight.
🪜 Stages: drop empty tanks to get lighter and faster.
Tap “Start again” if you'd like to play through once more.