Science Learning Hub logo
TopicsConceptsCitizen scienceTeacher PLDGlossary
Sign in
Image

Rocket forces

Diagram showing the forces acting on a rocket during lift-off.

A rocket has three main forces acting on it during lift-off. The resultant force is the sum of these. The rocket will speed up (or slow down) in the direction of the resultant force.

Glossary

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wananga o Waikato
Published: 30 November 2011Updated: 11 January 2026Size: 586.37 KB
Referencing Hub media

Explore related content

Appears inRelated resources
Investigating rockets – introduction

Article

Investigating rockets – introduction

Rocket science includes ideas of forces and motion, how rockets work and some of the challenges for those wanting to ...

Read more
Lift-off

Article

Lift-off

A rocket will launch and keep speeding up as long as the force pushing it upwards (thrust) is greater than ...

Read more
Rockets teaching sequence – unit plan

Teacher PLD

Rockets teaching sequence – unit plan

Rocket science includes ideas of forces and motion, how rockets work and some of the challenges for those wanting to ...

Read more
Getting rockets into space

Article

Getting rockets into space

Rockets launched into space can be suborbital (brief visit to space) or orbital (staying in motion around the Earth) or ...

Read more
Rocket aerodynamics

Article

Rocket aerodynamics

Rocket aerodynamics is the study of how air flows over a rocket and how this affects drag and stability.

Read more
Calculating rocket acceleration

Article

Calculating rocket acceleration

How does the acceleration of a model rocket compare to the Space Shuttle? By using the resultant force and mass, ...

Read more

See our newsletters here.

NewsEventsAboutContact usPrivacyCopyrightHelp

The Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao is funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Science in Society Initiative.

Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao © 2007-2026 The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato