Rocket Mass with Recovery Wadding, but Without the Engine: ______

Model Rockets

PURPOSE

To investigate the principles of rocket flight. To build and launch a toy rocket, and to apply laws of mechanics to analyze the vertical motion of the launched rocket.

DATA

Rocket model: ______

Rocket mass with recovery wadding, but without the engine: ______

The table below includes data that is common to all groups, plus your group’s angles for launch:

Air Resistance on rocketAngle

Engine Masseswhen using A8-3 engineMeasurements

Engine Stage / Mass (kg) / Rocket Type / Air Resist. (N) / Angle a / Angle b
Initial / 0.0161 / Awesome / 0.44 / 1. / 4.
End Thrust / 0.0131 / Alpha / 0.47 / 2. / 5.
End Coast / 0.0105 / Wizard / 0.54 / 3. / 6.
Viking / 0.56

DATA & ANALYSIS

MAXIMUM MEASURED ALTITUDE

1.Calculate the rocket’s measured altitude using the data collected during the launch and the equation shown below. Be sure to show all data and average angle calculations.

ROCKET MASS

2.Calculate the rocket’s mass at each engine stage listed above: Average Thrust Stage m1, End Thrust Stage m2, and Average Coast Stage m3.

THRUST STAGE

3.Calculate the impulse from each of the forces (lift from engine, gravity, air resistance) acting on the rocket during the Thrust Stage.

4.Use the impulse-momentum theorem to calculate the rocket’s velocity at the end of the Thrust Stage.

5.Use an appropriate kinematic equation to calculate the upward vertical displacement of the rocket during the Thrust Stage.

COAST STAGE

6.Calculate the rocket’s kinetic energy at the beginning of the Coast Stage (this is the same as the end of the Thrust Stage.)

7.Use the conservation of energy equation to calculate the rocket’s vertical displacement during the Coast Stage. Set the zero level for potential energy at the height where the Coast Stage begins.

MAXIMUM PREDICTED ALTITUDE

8.Add the Thrust Stage and the Coast Stage displacements to determine the maximum predicted altitude of the rocket above the ground level where it was launched.

QUESTIONS & CALCULATIONS

1.Calculate the percent difference between the maximum actual altitude and the maximum predicted altitude.

2.Give a detailed account for any discrepancy between the actual and predicted altitudes.

3.Use a kinematic equation to calculate the rocket’s acceleration during the thrust stage.

4.Use a kinematic equation to calculate the rocket’s acceleration during the coast stage.

5.Calculate what the maximum altitude would be without air resistance. Use separate paper to show all your work for this problem.

6.Use your altitude from the previous question to calculate the speed of the rocket as it hit the ground if there were no air resistance. Use separate paper to show all your work for this problem.

7.Honors only: Calculate the actual drag force for the rocket. Show that this answer is accurate by recalculating the predicted altitude and comparing to the actual altitude. Use separate paper to show all your work for this problem.