Name: Date:
How Rockets Work
Read the text and answer the questions.
What Is a Rocket?
A rocket is a type of vehicle that moves by pushing gas out of its
engines at high speed. Unlike cars or airplanes, rockets do not need
air to fly. This makes them perfect for space travel, where there is no
atmosphere. Rockets are used to launch satellites, carry astronauts,
and explore other planets. They are powerful enough to escape
Earth’s gravity and travel into space.
Newton’s Third Law
Rockets work because of Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For
every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In a rocket, fuel
burns in the engine and creates hot gas. The gas rushes out the back
of the rocket (action), and the rocket moves forward (reaction). This
simple but powerful law is what allows rockets to lift off the ground
and reach space.
Parts of a Rocket
Most rockets are made of different parts that work together. The
engine burns fuel to produce thrust. The fuel tank stores the propellant
(fuel and oxygen). The payload is the part of the rocket that carries
people, satellites, or scientific tools. Some rockets have multiple
stages. After each stage uses up its fuel, it falls away to make the
rocket lighter, helping it go farther.
Launch and Space Travel
When a rocket is launched, it must move fast enough to escape Earth’s
gravity—this speed is called escape velocity. Once in space, rockets
can change direction using small thrusters. They may dock with a
space station, release a satellite, or continue to distant planets.
Rockets are one of the greatest engineering achievements, helping
humans explore space and learn more about the universe.
Name: Date:
How Rockets Work
THE QUESTIONS
1 What makes rockets different from 2 What law of motion explains how
airplanes? rockets move?
A) Rockets have wings A) Newton’s First Law
B) Rockets are only toys B) Newton’s Second Law
C) Rockets don’t need air to work C) Newton’s Third Law
D) Rockets can float on water D) Law of Gravity
3 What happens when gas rushes out of 4 What does the fuel tank do?
the rocket? A) Controls the rocket’s path
A) The rocket slows down B) Stores astronauts
B) The rocket moves forward C) Stores fuel and oxygen
C) The rocket cools off D) Catches gas
D) The engine stops
5 What is the payload of a rocket? 6 Why do some rockets have stages?
A) The part that carries things A) To play music
B) The part that explodes B) To carry more water
C) The bottom part C) To become lighter and travel farther
D) The steering wheel D) To make landing easier
7 What is escape velocity? 8 What can rockets do in space?
A) Speed needed to land safely A) Float in the ocean
B) Speed needed to launch a car B) Catch comets
C) Speed of a shooting star C) Dock with stations or release
D) Speed needed to escape Earth’s satellites
gravity D) Make thunderstorms
Name: Date:
How Rockets Work
THE ANSWERS
1 What makes rockets different from 2 What law of motion explains how
airplanes? rockets move?
A) Rockets have wings A) Newton’s First Law
B) Rockets are only toys B) Newton’s Second Law
C) Rockets don’t need air to work C) Newton’s Third Law
D) Rockets can float on water D) Law of Gravity
3 What happens when gas rushes out of 4 What does the fuel tank do?
the rocket? A) Controls the rocket’s path
A) The rocket slows down B) Stores astronauts
B) The rocket moves forward C) Stores fuel and oxygen
C) The rocket cools off D) Catches gas
D) The engine stops
5 What is the payload of a rocket? 6 Why do some rockets have stages?
A) The part that carries things A) To play music
B) The part that explodes B) To carry more water
C) The bottom part C) To become lighter and travel farther
D) The steering wheel D) To make landing easier
7 What is escape velocity? 8 What can rockets do in space?
A) Speed needed to land safely A) Float in the ocean
B) Speed needed to launch a car B) Catch comets
C) Speed of a shooting star C) Dock with stations or release
D) Speed needed to escape Earth’s satellites
gravity D) Make thunderstorms