Rocket Project
In this project we created three rockets. Throughout the project we learned what did and didn't work for creating the perfect rocket. The first two rockets I created were made out of paper. They were both successful, so there was not much that we needed improve for our final rocket.
Project Requirements:
For our final rocket we had to design a rocket that would launch a minimum of 50 feet. We also had to find a way to make the egg that we placed inside the rocket survive the launch. The first rocket we created could only be made out of paper and tape. For our final rocket we could use any materials that we needed and could choose between a paper and a bottle rocket, but we had a budget and everything we used for our rocket cost money.
Project Requirements:
For our final rocket we had to design a rocket that would launch a minimum of 50 feet. We also had to find a way to make the egg that we placed inside the rocket survive the launch. The first rocket we created could only be made out of paper and tape. For our final rocket we could use any materials that we needed and could choose between a paper and a bottle rocket, but we had a budget and everything we used for our rocket cost money.
Final Rocket Write-up:
For our final rocket, we needed to know what worked and did not work from our previous rockets. I learned that when building a paper rocket, there can be NO way for the air to escape. If there are holes or rips in the paper, the rocket will not launch as successfully because air would be allowed to escape. My partner and I completely covered our first and second rocket in clear packing tape so that there would be no rips or holes that the air could escape out of. I also learned that the rocket’s body cannot be too short. Not enough air will build up in the body causing it to not be as successful. We made our fins smaller because we learned from the first launch that rockets with larger fins did not launch as well as ones with smaller fins. For the previous rockets we placed the egg a few inches below the cone knowing that when the rocket launches and is coming down to the ground it would be heavier wherever the egg is, making that part of the rocket crash first. If the egg was placed in the cone, the rocket would have crashed and stop moving, but the egg would keep going because of Newton's first law, An object in motion stays in motion, an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. The rocket was at rest because and unbalanced force (the ground) stopped it, but nothing was stopping the egg. The egg would continue to keep going. The egg was not placed in the cone and it kept going, but it was stopped by extra padding on the inside of the rocket. Therefor it never hit the ground and survived. |
We used our past experiments from the first and second rockets to determine which type of rocket would be better to build (paper or bottle). We also used information from the experiment 3...2...1…shoot, where we created mini paper rockets that were launched off of a straw. These experiments determined what shape nose to have on the rocket which we chose to use a cone, the length of the rocket, and the size of the fins.
For our final rocket we were going to make a paper rocket, but after we had thought about it, we decided to change to a bottle. We knew how to make a paper rocket and how to keep the egg safe, but if we had stuck to what we knew, what would we learn from the experience?
For our bottle rocket, we took a two liter bottle and taped another one on top so that we could create a little place for the egg to stay safe without cutting the bottle we would be filling with rocket fuel. We added a parachute that would create a safe landing for the egg as well. We made four medium/ small fins and hot glued them to the bottom of the rocket.
When we launched the rocket, it did not go very high but it exceeded the minimum height of 50 feet and the egg survived!
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Crayola Rocket Launch
For our final rocket we were going to make a paper rocket, but after we had thought about it, we decided to change to a bottle. We knew how to make a paper rocket and how to keep the egg safe, but if we had stuck to what we knew, what would we learn from the experience?
For our bottle rocket, we took a two liter bottle and taped another one on top so that we could create a little place for the egg to stay safe without cutting the bottle we would be filling with rocket fuel. We added a parachute that would create a safe landing for the egg as well. We made four medium/ small fins and hot glued them to the bottom of the rocket.
When we launched the rocket, it did not go very high but it exceeded the minimum height of 50 feet and the egg survived!
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Crayola Rocket Launch
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File Type: | mov |
Final rocket (Galaxy Rocket) Launch