In light of the recent launches I was wondering why rockets launch straight up instead of taking of like a plane.
It seems to take so much fuel to go straight up, and in my mind I can’t see to get my head around why they don’t take off like a plane and go up gradually like that.
Edit – Spelling and grammar
Edit 2 – Thank you to everyone who responded. You have answered a life long question.
In: Physics
Rockets basically are not ‘straight up’. It’s only the take off part. After that it turns in the same direction of earth spin and make use of it to reach 1st, 2nd, etc. cosmic velocity.
Airplane can use its wings to lift itself from ground but it cannot go fast, while a rocket needs to not only lift but to be fast enough to offset gravity. And with wings, it causes too much air drag and thus less efficient to accelerate.
Eventually you need to understand rocket uses its speed to generate centrifugal force to offset gravity while airplane uses its wings to lift it up.
Latest Answers