The arrival of Grok 3.5 marks a turning point in the AI arms race. Developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, Grok 3.5 is rumored to be the first chatbot capable of true first principles reasoning—a method of problem-solving that doesn’t rely on copying internet knowledge, but instead breaks problems down to fundamental truths.
📚 Grok 3.5 Prompt Examples
Grok 3.5 is designed to handle complex scientific reasoning—not just retrieve facts, but derive insights. These prompts leverage its capabilities in physics, chemistry, biology, and high-level math:
🧪 Electrochemistry
Prompt:
Simulate electrolysis in a brine (NaCl) solution. Describe the reactions at each electrode and identify the gases released.
What Grok can deliver:
- Clear step-by-step reaction breakdown:
- Cathode: 2H₂O + 2e⁻ → H₂ (gas) + 2OH⁻
- Anode: 2Cl⁻ → Cl₂ (gas) + 2e⁻
- Identification of gas evolution and changes in pH.
- Thermodynamic and kinetic considerations.
✅ Variations:
- How does temperature affect the gas yield during electrolysis?
- What changes occur if graphite electrodes are replaced with zinc?
⚛️ Astrodynamics
Prompt:
Explain the orbital mechanics of a Hohmann transfer from Earth to Mars, including delta-v requirements and travel time.
Expected output:
- Step-by-step derivation of orbital velocities.
- Delta-v calculation for departure and insertion.
- Optimal launch windows and synodic periods.
- Visualization of elliptical transfer orbit.
✅ Variations:
- Compare the efficiency of Hohmann vs bi-elliptic transfers.
- Design a Mars round-trip mission using gravity assists.
🧫 Biophysics / Thermodynamics
Prompt:
Model the entropy change during the folding of a 100-residue protein in aqueous solution.
What Grok may output:
- Estimation of configurational entropy loss.
- Discussion of hydrophobic interactions and solvent ordering.
- ΔS and ΔG evaluation using thermodynamic equations.
- Practical relevance to diseases caused by misfolded proteins.
✅ Variations:
- Predict how pH and salt concentration affect folding entropy.
- Compare entropy change in folding vs ligand binding.
🛠️ Engineering Prompts
Grok 3.5 is capable of first-principles engineering reasoning, simulating real-world design and optimization problems across aerospace, mechanical, civil, and electrical domains.
🚀 Rocket Propulsion Engineering
Prompt:
Design the optimal injector for a staged combustion LOX/methane engine that minimizes combustion instability.
What Grok will analyze:
- Injector type (e.g., coaxial, pintle, swirl).
- Turbulent mixing profiles.
- Chamber pressure harmonics and risk mitigation strategies.
- Combustion efficiency vs structural complexity trade-offs.
✅ Variations:
- Simulate injector spray pattern under cryogenic conditions.
- Analyze acoustic instability modes in the combustion chamber.
🔋 EV Battery Thermal Design
Prompt:
Design a hybrid passive and active cooling system for a 400V EV battery pack operating in 40°C ambient temperature.
Expected insights:
- Use of PCM (Phase Change Materials) for heat buffering.
- Liquid cooling loop design and flow rate optimization.
- Thermal runaway protection mechanisms.
- Real-world scenarios like supercharging cycles and thermal fatigue.
✅ Variations:
- Compare air-cooled vs liquid-cooled systems under peak load.
- Integrate the battery cooling with HVAC for thermal efficiency.
🧱 Structural Engineering
Prompt:
Calculate the axial load-bearing capacity of a reinforced concrete column: 6m tall, 30cm diameter, with standard rebar.
What Grok can calculate:
- Critical buckling load (Euler and ACI methods).
- Cross-sectional area and concrete stress limits.
- Rebar layout and concrete cover compliance.
- Factor of safety according to Eurocode/ACI 318.
✅ Variations:
- How would lateral loads affect buckling risk?
- Redesign using high-performance concrete and fiber reinforcement.
🧑💻 Coding & Logic Prompts
Grok 3.5 doesn’t just write code—it reasons about it, self-corrects, and explains logic step-by-step. Ideal for algorithm design, agent simulation, and scientific computing.
💻 Gravity Assist Simulation
Prompt:
Write Python code to simulate a gravity assist maneuver around a planet. Include a plot showing the spacecraft’s trajectory before and after.
Expected capabilities:
- Accurate orbital mechanics based on energy and momentum transfer.
- Use of
matplotliborplotlyfor trajectory visualization. - Adjustable parameters for mass, velocity, and flyby angle.
- Explanation of how slingshot boosts spacecraft speed.
✅ Variations:
- Add interactive sliders for spacecraft entry speed and trajectory angle.
- Compare with direct transfer orbit performance.
🧠 AI Proof Checker
Prompt:
Design an AI agent that checks and corrects mathematical proofs step by step, using formal logic and symbolic reasoning.
What Grok can build:
- Multi-step parsing and validation of each theorem component.
- Application of logical inference rules (e.g., Modus Ponens, Induction).
- Highlighting flawed assumptions and suggesting alternatives.
- Integration with
SymPyor custom logic solvers.
✅ Variations:
- Have the agent verify proofs in calculus, such as the Mean Value Theorem.
- Test the agent on flawed induction proofs with missing base cases.
🕹️ 2D Orbital Simulator with Pygame
Prompt:
Build a 2D orbital simulation game using Pygame that models circular and elliptical orbits in real time.
Expected features:
- Realistic gravitational acceleration using Newtonian physics.
- Visual trails for orbits with dynamic bodies.
- Interactive launch scenarios and velocity adjustments.
- Custom physics engine or integration with existing libraries.
✅ Variations:
- Add real-time trajectory prediction with adjustable time steps.
- Include object collisions and simulate Lagrange points.
🧠 Bonus Prompt Strategy: Multi-Step Prompt Chaining
For complex tasks, chain prompts to build up layers of reasoning:
Chained Example:
- “Design a regeneratively cooled nozzle for a LOX/methane engine.”
- “Now simulate the heat transfer profile during a 2-minute burn.”
- “Optimize the channel wall geometry to reduce weight without overheating.”
🔍 Real-World Grok 3.5 Use Cases
🛰️ Space Engineering
- Designing interplanetary mission trajectories
- Modeling engine combustion stability
- Solving closed-loop life support CO₂ scrubbing systems
🔋 Energy & Electrochemistry
- Novel battery chemistry optimization
- Predicting material degradation under extreme conditions
- Designing charge/discharge cycles to minimize heat loss
📊 Data Science & Simulation
- Running Monte Carlo simulations
- Interpreting time-series from satellite telemetry
- Developing anomaly detection models with first-principle constraints
🧠 Expert Tip: How to Write Better Grok 3.5 Prompts
Here’s a simple structure to maximize Grok 3.5’s reasoning capabilities:
1. Define the Goal Clearly
“I want to simulate a reentry scenario using basic physics.”
2. Request First-Principle Logic
“Explain your answer without referencing external websites or known designs.”
3. Ask for Step-by-Step
“Walk through the solution from base laws (Newton’s, Thermodynamics, etc.).”
4. Request Verification or Self-Critique
“Are there any assumptions or risks in this solution? Suggest alternatives.”
🧪 Sample Prompt + Response Breakdown
Prompt:
Design a reusable rocket stage separation system that minimizes aerodynamic drag and maximizes reliability.
Grok 3.5 Response (Expected Summary):
- Explains pros/cons of pusher vs explosive bolts
- Introduces pneumatic separation alternatives
- Evaluates mechanical failure probabilities
- Includes CFD drag profile simulation concepts
- Suggests carbon composite structural options
✅ Final Thoughts
Grok 3.5 isn’t just a chatbot—it’s a reasoning engine designed to handle real-world technical problems with logic, not guesswork. Whether you’re a scientist, engineer, student, or just an AI enthusiast, this model is built to challenge the norms of what AI can do.
If even half the leaks are true, Grok 3.5 could represent the single biggest leap in cognitive AI since ChatGPT. Now it’s just a matter of time—and testing.