What Does It Mean? 🤔
Let's learn together
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Thrust is the forward push that makes something like a rocket, airplane, or balloon move ahead through the air. The bigger the thrust, the faster and farther something can go.
When Fix's balloon let air rush out the back, that escaping air created thrust — and that thrust is exactly what sent the balloon zooming forward down the string during the Balloon Rocket Race.
Engineers who design real rockets and airplanes spend a lot of time figuring out how to create more thrust, because more thrust means more speed and the ability to carry heavier loads.
See It in Action! 👀
Real examples
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Air rushing out of a balloon creates thrust that pushes it forward!
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Airplane engines create thrust to push the plane forward through the sky!
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Rocket engines create huge amounts of thrust to lift off the ground!
For Grown-Ups! 👨👩👧
Help kids learn
👨👩👧 Teaching Tips
Pair thrust with the balloon rocket activity so kids can directly feel and see the connection between more air (more thrust) and a faster, farther launch.
🏫 Classroom Ideas
Have students test balloons of different sizes in the balloon rocket race and record which size produced the most thrust based on distance traveled.