The Physics of the Hopping Roadster

Run Tesla's 2026 Roadster through the reveal's stunts on a working test bench: launch it, drive it upside down, fly it off a 23 m arch and over five cars, and find out what pushes it, presses it down and lifts it. Eight lessons for ages 12 and up.

Library

Sticking to the road

Lesson 1

Under One Second

0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds, when a quick sports car needs three: what pushes it that hard?

Start

Lesson 2

More Grip, Same Car

Fans press the Roadster onto the road, and so would a load of lead: would the lead work as well?

Start

Lesson 3

A Car on the Ceiling

Upside down, more than 20 m up, with nothing to hold on to: why doesn't it fall?

Start

Pushing on nothing

Lesson 4

Pushing the Invisible

No fire, no wheels, no road: so what does a thruster push on?

Start

Lesson 5

Why Only Once?

A tank that takes hours to fill buys a single launch: why?

Start

Leaving the ground

Lesson 6

Where Does It Fall?

Weaken the fans and the car lets go of the arch: where?

Start

Lesson 7

The Kickflip

A full roll in mid-air over five cars, then wheels-down. Nothing touched it.

Start

Lesson 8

How Full Is Full Enough?

Four jets of gas hold up a car of more than two tonnes: how full must the tank be to set it down softly?

Start

Review and assessment

Lesson 9

Test: The Physics of the Hopping Roadster

Review the course ideas by applying them to new situations, with kind feedback after every answer.

Locked till you take the prior lesson