The rocket equation

The rocket equation describes how much fuel a rocket needs to reach a certain speed or distance. It shows that to accelerate, a rocket must carry both its payload and the fuel needed to propel itself. As the rocket speeds up, it burns fuel, which becomes part of what needs to be pushed forward. To go faster or farther, the rocket must carry even more fuel, making it larger and heavier. This trade-off explains why designing rockets involves carefully balancing fuel, weight, and performance to achieve mission goals efficiently.