The Airborne Identity Project is focusing on rockets. We will be creating and launching our own rockets. We will make improvements upon each draft to make our rockets go higher and faster. We are going to make a total of five prototypes that will all be on display at Exhibition. We will also be researching ideas to improve our rockets. We will note everything about our rockets and make analysis' on our experiences and our ideas for future improvements. We will be learning about aerodynamics to improve our rockets. This should be a lot of fun and I look forward to making successful rockets.
Stage 1
Before:
After:
Questions:
1. There are four main forces on a rocket: Lift, Drag, Weight, and Thrust. Lift and drag are aerodynamic forces. Weight is a field force so it is generated on it's own. The gravitational force depends on the mass of the object. More massive objects create greater forces. Thrust moves the rocket through the air. Thrust is generated by propulsion. "For every action there is an equal reaction". It uses gas or liquid called working fluid. The drag force is working against the direction of motion, air resistance. The lift force is working with the direction of motion, going the same way. Lift is used for stabilization and controls the direction of the flight.
2. A vector quantity is force that has both magnitude and direction.
3. On an airplane, thrust is moving forward, lift is moving upward, lift is used to overcome the weight of the plane, weight is moving downward with gravity, and drag is pulling backwards. Where as on a rocket, lift is still moving upwards allowing velocity, weight is still moving downward because of gravity, drag is moving downward from the center of pressure, and thrust is moving upward with lift. On a rocket, the drag is usually much greater than the lift and thrust is used in opposition of weight.
4. The center of pressure is where the lift and the drag are located which is the average place that the aerodynamic forces work through on an object. The center of pressure is important because it allows the lift to create stabilization.
1. There are four main forces on a rocket: Lift, Drag, Weight, and Thrust. Lift and drag are aerodynamic forces. Weight is a field force so it is generated on it's own. The gravitational force depends on the mass of the object. More massive objects create greater forces. Thrust moves the rocket through the air. Thrust is generated by propulsion. "For every action there is an equal reaction". It uses gas or liquid called working fluid. The drag force is working against the direction of motion, air resistance. The lift force is working with the direction of motion, going the same way. Lift is used for stabilization and controls the direction of the flight.
2. A vector quantity is force that has both magnitude and direction.
3. On an airplane, thrust is moving forward, lift is moving upward, lift is used to overcome the weight of the plane, weight is moving downward with gravity, and drag is pulling backwards. Where as on a rocket, lift is still moving upwards allowing velocity, weight is still moving downward because of gravity, drag is moving downward from the center of pressure, and thrust is moving upward with lift. On a rocket, the drag is usually much greater than the lift and thrust is used in opposition of weight.
4. The center of pressure is where the lift and the drag are located which is the average place that the aerodynamic forces work through on an object. The center of pressure is important because it allows the lift to create stabilization.
Stage 2
Before the Launch:
After the Launch:
Process Picture/Video of Rocket Launch:
Blueprint:
What are fins and what is their purpose on rockets?
The purpose of fins is to add stability to the rocket. During a flight, the goal is to make your rocket go straight up. FIns are created to make your rocket go up, not sideways. Fins are attached to the bottom of a rocket to make sure the rocket stays on its intended flight path.
What is the purpose of the body/fuselage?
The body is used to hold the rocket together. It usually holds an engine, but in our case, it holds the air that propulses the rocket upward as it comes out of the bottom of the body tube.
What is a nosecone and what is it's purpose?
The nosecone uses aerodynamics to got through the air smoothly. It is at the top of the rocket, shaped in a cone, like a snow cone cup.
Prototype #3
What was the biggest problem you want to address with the last launch?
Paper Fins aren't a good idea. They are too flimsy and I think that they don't help the rocket go straight up. If the energy is used to go another direction other than straight up, it won't go as high up in the air. Therefore, a less successful rocket. So, I should try my best to make the best stabilization using better fins.
What are some possible solutions?
Fins should be at the bottom of the rocket for stability. The fins counteract the sideways motion of a rocket. This means to try to send the rocket straight up rather than going off to the side. If the rocket starts going in a sideways motion, the air that is pushing against the fins will cause it to go back to a straight motion. So, the fins need to be strong so that air can push against them.
How will you implement them in your design?
I am going to make my fins out of cardboard for Prototype #3.
Before:
Process Picture:
After:
Blueprint:
What problem is this prototype trying to address & how is it attempting to fix the problem?
My fins weren't successful in the last prototype. The rocket did not go straight up in the air, it kind of went sideways because the fins were too flimsy so they didn't provide stability. I am making more durable fins to fix this problem.
What features does your rocket design have that are different from previous drafts?
In my third draft, I have used cardboard fins rather than paper fins like my other two previous drafts. I have also tried a more durable nosecone because I have had a history with them breaking. I learned from my previous prototypes and have decided to make revisions. I wrapped duct tape around a piece of paper before making the nosecone and attaching it to the rocket.
Prototype 4 (Stage 4)
Before:
Blueprint:
I want to measure how the length of a rocket affects its launch height. I am going to measure the height of 4 of my classmates rockets, and measure the height that they reach using my inclinometer. Once I have my results, I will analyze the data to find if the rocket's height has a significant affect on the launch height.
Process Picture:
After:
Rocket Investigation: Scientific Process & Community.
I have been wondering if the height of the rocket affects the launch height, or how high the rocket goes up in the air. Because, Flavo's rocket was clearly tall, and her launch was very successful on Friday.
Inquiry Question: How does the height of your rocket affect the height of the launch?
Hypothesis: I predict that I will find that when the body of a rocket is taller, the launch height is also taller/larger.
In order to find the information I need,
To conduct my experiment, I will measure the height of other students rockets. Then, analyze and compare that to their launch height and angles collected on the Results document .to find if the height of a rocket affects the launch height or how high the rocket goes.
Analysis: It seems that the height of the rocket doesn't really show a significant affect on the launch height. In some cases, like Flavia's rocket, it seemed to improve the launch height. But, there is evidence showing that shorter rockets can also do successful. See Adrian's rocket. His was only six inches and his launch had an angle of 46 degrees. This is a larger angle than most of the taller rockets performed at the launch. Some shorter rockets even did better than the longer ones. Use Franny's and my rockets as an example, she had a height of 15 inches, and I had a height of 13 inches. But, my rocket went significantly farther up in the air. The launch height also has a lot to do with other variables in our rocket's. It could be more closely related to the fins or the nosecone.
For my next rocket, prototype #5, I am going to make the body of my rocket much taller, using a wrapping paper tube. This strategy was successful for some people, and I am willing to try my luck.
Inquiry Question: How does the height of your rocket affect the height of the launch?
Hypothesis: I predict that I will find that when the body of a rocket is taller, the launch height is also taller/larger.
In order to find the information I need,
To conduct my experiment, I will measure the height of other students rockets. Then, analyze and compare that to their launch height and angles collected on the Results document .to find if the height of a rocket affects the launch height or how high the rocket goes.
Analysis: It seems that the height of the rocket doesn't really show a significant affect on the launch height. In some cases, like Flavia's rocket, it seemed to improve the launch height. But, there is evidence showing that shorter rockets can also do successful. See Adrian's rocket. His was only six inches and his launch had an angle of 46 degrees. This is a larger angle than most of the taller rockets performed at the launch. Some shorter rockets even did better than the longer ones. Use Franny's and my rockets as an example, she had a height of 15 inches, and I had a height of 13 inches. But, my rocket went significantly farther up in the air. The launch height also has a lot to do with other variables in our rocket's. It could be more closely related to the fins or the nosecone.
For my next rocket, prototype #5, I am going to make the body of my rocket much taller, using a wrapping paper tube. This strategy was successful for some people, and I am willing to try my luck.