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What keeps them up?

How do an airplane's wings help it stay in the air? What keeps a satellite up? Airplane wings have a special shape. They are curved on top and straight on the bottom. This shape is what helps lift...

A tug from the earth

Imagine floating through the air, standing on the ceiling, or leaping upstairs in one big bound! An astronaut traveling through space can do all of these things. But on the earth, you can't. You...

Friction from air

Even air creates friction---it rubs against moving things and slows them down. You can make a \"helicopter" that uses the friction of air to slow its fall---and to spin, too. Place the paper with...

How do brakes work?

> This bicycle has hand brakes---one for the front wheel and one for the > rear wheel. To stop, the rider squeezes the levers on the handle bars. Slow down! There's a busy street ahead. Stop your...

The invisible push

The light turns green and the car starts to move quickly. It feels as if a big, invisible hand pushes you back in the car seat and makes you stay there. But it feels different when the car stops...

Pushes and pulls

Back and forth, up and down. Swinging in a swing is almost like flying. What makes the swing go up in the air? Most of the time you do. You \"pump" with your legs and body. Sometimes you can get a...