ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ballistic missile

Okay kiddo, let me explain what a ballistic missile is.

Have you ever seen a baseball being thrown really hard by a pitcher? Imagine that the baseball is actually a rocket that goes up into the sky really high and really fast.

That's what a ballistic missile is, it's a rocket that's designed to go really far and really fast. But instead of throwing it with your hand, it's launched from a special pad or a submarine.

The missile flies through the air and then comes down really fast towards its target, kind of like a really fast airplane. It's called "ballistic" because the missile follows a curved path, sort of like the way a ball rolls down a hill.

Sometimes people use ballistic missiles to deliver weapons, like bombs, to a specific location. But sometimes they're used just for show or as a way to show off a country's power.

It's important to remember that playing with missiles is dangerous, so it's best to leave that to the experts!