The word "rocket" can mean different things. Most people think of a tall, thin, round vehicle. They think of a rocket that launches into space. "Rocket" can mean a type of engine. The word also can mean a vehicle that uses that engine. Like most engines, rockets burn fuel. Most rocket engines turn the fuel into hot gas. The engine pushes the gas out its back. The gas makes the rocket move forward. A rocket is different from a jet engine. A jet engine needs air to work. A rocket engine doesn't need air. It carries with it everything it needs. A rocket engine works in space, where there is no air. There are two main types of rocket engines. Some rockets use liquid fuel. The main engines on the space shuttle orbiter use liquid fuel. The Russian Soyuz uses liquid fuels. Other rockets use solid fuels. On the side of the space shuttle are two white solid rocket boosters. They use solid fuels. Fireworks and model rockets also fly using solid fuels. So how does a rocket work? The rocket pushes on its exhaust. The exhaust pushes the rocket, too. The rocket pushes the exhaust backward. The exhaust makes the rocket move forward. This rule can be seen on Earth. Imagine a person standing on a skateboard. Imagine that person throwing a bowling ball. The ball will go forward. The person on the skateboard will move, too. The person will move backward. Because the person is heavier, the bowling ball will move farther. Did you know: The first rockets we know about were used in China in the 1200s. These solid rockets were used for fireworks. Armies also used them in wars. In the next 700 years, people made bigger and better solid rockets. Many of these were used for wars too. In 1969, the United States launched the first men to land on the moon using a Saturn V rocket. This is the newest Falcon 9 rocket that successfully blasted off on Sunday to take much needed supplies to the International Space Station. These new rockets are being built to eventually send humans to other planets, like Mars and our Moon, and who knows where else! If you like fire....maybe a rocket scientist you will be? Science: Period 1: Building Soda Straw Rockets Period 2: Gravity and Orbits Lab Report Due today! Period 3: Learning about Gravity. Textbook worksheet is due today. NO HOMEWORK FOR MONTH OF DECEMBER: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!! Social StudiesMr. Scheerer's class: Starting a new quick unit on Ancient Israel. First is our Map of Ancient/Modern Israel.
Mrs. Taylor's class: We started reading about Alexander the Great and will be ready to do our Vocabulary poster project tomorrow.
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |