Rocket:
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Rocket:
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Rubberbands (#64)
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30 cm Length of1/2'' Pipe Insulation
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9 x 9 cm Cardstock Square
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3 8'' Zip Ties
Protractor/Launch Device:
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Meter stick
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Binder clip
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Paper protractor
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String
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Washer
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Things that Fly: Foam Rockets
This week, we built foam rockets, which we then launched with the help of a meter stick and rubber bands. We launched our rocket from five different angles, and recorded the data from each trial in the data table below.
Here is a video of our rocket launching at a 45 degree angle!
Materials for this Project
The Science Behind This Project
What does the energy transfer process look like for this project?
For this project, the process of energy transfer would look something like this:
Why did the rocket travel in an arc? In short, these rockets travel in an arc because of gravity and a tendency to go straight. The long story is that when the rubber band is released and the rocket is sent into the air, the rocket as a great deal of kinetic energy (momentum). But, since the rocket wants to move in a straight line, it will travel to the highest point that it can vertically (which is set by the angle at launch) before it begins to arc. When the rocket loses momentum, it starts to get bottom heavy, and nosedives towards the ground. At this point, the rocket has a lot of inertia, and will keep doing what it is doing (falling) until it meets the unbalanced force the ground.
What is the difference between the propulsion method uses for this project and the propulsion method that rocket ships use? The method of propulsion which is used for this type of rocket can be related to Newton's Third Law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The actions of pulling back on the rubber band and then letting go of the rubber band results in the opposite reaction of the rocket shooting forward. Rockets also move as a result of Newton's Third Law. The NASA for students website summarizes how rockets move well: "The rocket pushes on its exhaust. The exhaust pushes the rocket, too. The rocket pushes the exhaust backward. The exhaust makes the rocket move forward." Even though both rockets above as a result of an equal and opposite force that is acted against, true rocket ships are sent into the air because of the pressure that is created by air, gas, and combustion. When the pressure that is built up inside of the rocket is too much for the rocket ship to contain, there is a release of pressure from the rocket, which leads to an unbalanced force between the rocket and the ground. This and gravity send the rocket into the air.
Click on the graph to visit the create-a-graph website!
When the rocket is placed on the meter stick and the rubber band is pulled backwards, the rubber band provides elastic potential energy to the rocket. Then, when I let go of the rubber band, that potential energy became kinetic energy, which sent the rocket off of the meter stick and into the air. When the rocket travels through the air, it travels in an arc, until it crashes back down on to the ground.
Here is Jeff Goodman demonstrating how to set up and launch a foam rocket!
Here is a demonstration of a bottle rocket launch!
Rocket Launch Data and Graph
How to Use the Create-A-Graph Website:
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Select "X-Y Graph"
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Choose "Line" under XY type
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Toggle over to the data tab, and enter a graph title, x and y axis values, and all data points
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Go to the "Labels" tab and choose font/colors for graph
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Preview your graph
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Then, go to the "Save/print" page!
