Forces of Flight
What force pulls a rocket downward toward the Earth?
Gravity
What is the term for the object being carried, like the egg in the egg drop?
Payload
What does “aero” mean in the word "aerodynamics"?
Air
What is the pointy front part of the rocket called?
Nose Cone
Who is famous for discovering gravity after seeing an apple fall?
Isaac Newton
What force pushes a rocket forward into the air?
Thrust
What is the force that slows down falling objects like your egg capsule?
Drag / Air Resistance
What type of nose cone shape creates less drag: flat or pointy?
Pointy
What part of the rocket holds all the components together?
Upper Body / Lower Body
What does a wind tunnel help scientists study?
Airflow
Which force pushes a rocket upward and helps it fight gravity?
Lift
Why do space capsules need parachutes when landing on Earth?
To slow them down and reduce impact force
Why does a rocket with a wider front experience more drag than one with a narrow front?
Increased Drag and Surface Area
What part of the rocket helps keep it stable during flight?
Fins
What type of airflow is smooth and produces less drag?
Laminar Airflow
What is the name of the force that slows a rocket down as it moves through the air?
Drag
What is the term for the force that occurs when an object hits the ground?
Impact Force
What are the two main points used to measure rocket stability?
Center of Mass / Center of Pressure
What system is used to slow the rocket’s fall and allow a safe landing?
Recovery System
What part of the wind tunnel speeds up the air for better simulation?
Converging Section
What happens to air pressure when air moves faster over the top of a wing?
Decreases
Why do capsules use crumple zones or airbags during landing?
To absorb energy and protect the payload.
What two specific conditions must be true for a rocket to be aerodynamically stable during flight?
Center of mass must be in front of the center of pressure and the rocket must have properly aligned fins?
What must be in front, center of mass or center of pressure, for a rocket to fly straight?
Center of Mass
What do engineers use to visualize airflow in wind tunnel tests?
Smoke lines or flow visualizers