Things You Thought You Knew – Up, Up, and Away!

About This Episode

What is the rocket equation? How do airplanes fly? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic Chuck Nice go through some things you thought you knew about how airplanes fly, x-rays, and how to fuel a rocket. 

Can you fly a plane upside down? Learn about the wings of airplanes and how they are engineered to take off into the air. Discover how differences in air speed create lift, extra features that reduce drag, and what happens when a plane stalls in the air. Plus, what is the best direction for take off and landing? 

What do airport x-ray machines have to do with black holes? We dive into astrophysics’ connection to the everyday x-ray machine and Riccardo Giacconi’s Nobel Prize-winning work. Learn about the electromagnetic spectrum and what it means to be transparent. Are all substances transparent to different bands of light? 

What if you took a road trip and never stopped for gas? We learn about how to fuel a rocket for a trip to space and how you might need more fuel than you think you need. Learn about rocket boosters and how rockets are water-powered. Why does a rocket launch in stages?

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