Rocket Systems Flashcards
Define the word rocket
Long tall structure that can be propelled into space
Define the word launch
To send a spacecraft into space
Define gravity
The pull that holds things on the earth
Define payload
The people, equipment, or other spacecraft carried by a rocket
define the word vehicle
A machine – that is used to carry – people or things – from one place to another
What does the word propel mean?
To move or push – something forwards
What makes a balloon move?
- The air in the balloon is under pressure
- The air is pushing on the balloon and the balloon is pushing on the air
- When the air is under pressure it will try to escape
- When you let go the balloon pushes the air out in one direction
- The air pushes the balloon forward in the opposite direction
Who was Sir Isaac Newton?
a scientist – lived 300 yrs ago
What did he discover?
all objects on Earth move according to the same rules or laws
What did Newton’s 3rd law say?
For every PUSH in one direction there is an equal push in the opposite direction
Which of Newton’s Laws explains how a rocket moves?
His 3rd Law
What propels a rocket upwards?
The force of the hot gases (produced by burning rocket fuel)npushing downwards
What does a rocket carry into space?
A payload
What is a system?
Something that has different parts that work together to make something happen
What does a system need to make something happen to it?
An input energy
What is the input energy of a rocket?
Energy from buring the rocket fuel (liquid or solid)
What is the output energy of a rocket?
Fast upward movement energy
Why does a rocket need a lot of upward movement energy?
To get it moving fast enough to escape the Earth’s gravity and push through the Earth’s atmosphere
What happens when a fuel powering a rocket is finished?
The rocket drops back to Earth
What characteristics must a rocket have to do it’s job well?
- Strong - a rocket has a strong shell-type structure so it can carry heavy payloads and to get through the Earth’s atmosphere
- Light - to carry more equipment since it’s own weight is lower
- Streamline shape - to help to travel through the atmopshere more easily
What happens if a rocket is heavy?
It needs more fuel to propell it into space
Why do we see fire and smoke when a rocket moves?
The rocket burns fuel to move upwards.
Fire = fuel burning
Smoke =gases being pushed out of the bottom of the rocket
