Rocket Research

Rocket Research T-10 Question Set 1: Stability & Drag

Rocket Research T-10 Question Set 2: Propulsion & Drag

Go to this site and read to answer questions. Answer questions on separate sheet of paper and a pair from each group is responsible for 1 question set. Each group will turn in each of the Question Sets; not individual. Example, Mary & Bobby study and turn in question Set 1 and Larry & Francesca turn in Set 2.

Go to this website Below and go through Rocket Research 101, 102, & 103 to help you answer the questions.

POL Format & Process

Math/Science POL Format & Prep

Actually, It IS Rocket Science

Here is the Document for the POL

Below is an overview and guide for planning and preparing for your Group Rocket Presentation of Learning. This will be a group Presentation of Learning where your group will showcase your proposed Rocket Design and feature a key concept related to your rocket.

Things to Know and Do to Be Ready:

• Your group presentation must be No Longer than 10 minutes. A 10 minute Presentation + 5 Minutes for Q&A= 15 minutes Total Presentation Time
• You will spend the week Researching & Developing your ideas on your Key Concept and Rocket Design
• Assign Roles for your Group: Project Manager, Editor, Chief Engineer, & Rocket Scientist (See Actually, It’s Rocket Science Handout for more details)
• Awards for Best Presentation and

Requirements & Goals for POL:

• Plan & demonstrate 1 Key Science/Physics Concept relate to Rocket Science
  • Your group will choose Key Concept from list below in class.
  • Present a Demonstration of the concept in your Presentation to teach, illustrate the concept.
• Present your preliminary Proposal Design for your Rocket based on Level of Difficulty that your group chooses (See “It’s Actually Rocket Science” Project Handout)
  • Show a Diagram or illustration of your Rocket Design
  • Explain how your rocket will function
• Explain how Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion connect to Rocket Science
• Present a 1-2 Questions to the group that you would like feedback on about your Rocket Design.

Expectations for Presentation:

• Each member of group must have a significant speaking role
• Each member of group knows all aspects of presentation & content
• Presentation is 10 minutes + Q&A/feedback for 5 minutes
• Answer questions confidently
• Presentation has a demonstration, artifact or significant visual highlighting Key Concept of Rocket Science
• Dress professionally
• Presentation is polished, practiced and confident in content presentation.
• Presentation is showcased and guided through some type of presentation software: Google Slides, Prezi, etc.

Format: (general format suggested). Use planning storyboard to get started and plan out presentation. 10 minute Maximum

I. (1 minute)Hook/Intro.- opening of POL should hook audience with an interesting question, phenomenon, experiment or creative opening showcasing Rocket Science.

II. (3 minutes) How a Rocket Functions- explain how a rocket works and how the parts (the form of the parts) meet a function (Newton’s Law connection)

1. Show diagram or Picture of your Rocket Design
2. Relate how a Rocket flies and how it connects to Newton’s 3 Laws

III. (5 minutes) Key Science/Physics Concept- demonstrate a key concept that your group has chosen that is involved in Rocket Science. A short demonstration, experiment and/or illustration for the concept.

• Define this Concept
• Explain what it means and how it is in play in the function of your rocket

IV. (1 Minute) Conclusion & Feedback Questions- in your group, come up with 1 or 2 questions that you would like the audience to give you feedback on for your rocket. Examples might be, “How can we reduce the drag on our rocket?” “What fin design might work best?” “How can we make sure our parachute deploys properly?”

Q&A (5 minutes) Audience will ask and answer questions to group presenting

Assessment: here are some key questions that your group should answer or address during your POL; these are not necessarily questions that will be asked of your group but are questions that your group should address during presentation. Good place to start for building your presentation.

• How does Newton’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd Law relate to the function of your Rocket?
• What are the key parts of your rocket and what is their purpose as it relates to the function of your rocket?
• Why do you think your rocket will compete for the Highest Launch and Longest Flight?
• How does friction (drag) impact the flight of your Rocket?
• What lessons did you learn from the Egg Drop and Balloon Car Project that you can apply to your Rocket?

Your group will be graded and assessed on the following:

1. Professionalism- member of each group demonstrates a high degree of maturity, focus, and professionalism in terms of affect, dress, and delivery of presentation. All members can speak and talk confidently on subject matter and contribute equally to the work and development of presentation.
2. Presentation- shows practice and delivery is smooth punctuated with smooth transitions, prepared materials, and each member speaks confidently with proper voice control, projection and knows the content.
3. Competent Knowledge- each member knows subject matter and content related to project; each has understanding of Newton’s 3 Laws and connection to Key Concept in your rocket Each member can address questions related to the mechanism, construction, or content application of your rocket.
4. Connection- shows connection & highlights application to the real world in terms of what was learned in the project including but not limited to science application, design elements, engineering decisions, problem solving, critical thinking and group dynamics.

***Remember, it is completely possible for individual members to NOT pass their POL in which they will be expected to redo POL in a traditional format, solo.

Rocket Science Key Concepts

Below is a list of Key Concepts related to Rocket Science and Flight. Your group will have the opportunity to choose one and you will research, study, and develop a short demo about the concept for use during your POL.

*Note- only 1 concept per group, once it is chosen...other groups will not be able to choose it. We will conduct a decision-making process in class to determine which group gets which concept.

* There may be other concepts not listed below, if you are interested in a different concept, please get approval from Mr. Holmes

Key Concepts:

Below are the Key Concepts for your POL. Each group will choose (or be assigned) one.

Use the NASA Rocket Science sites below to learn more about your Key Concept

Beginners Guide to Rocket Science

Index of Rocket Science Topics

1. Air Pressure- the main propellent along with water to provide thrust for your rocket. What is air pressure? How does it work? How does a gas function?
2. Bernoulli’s Principle- related to different air pressure (and air speeds). This is how planes and rockets fly. It creates Lift!
3. Drag or Drag Coefficient- you know this as air friction, how does it work? How do you use drag to help your rocket throughout it’s flight, that is, the ascent and descent?
4. Center of Gravity, Stability- an important concept in all moving objects especially rockets. What is it and why is it important in the flight of your rocket?
5. Gravity & it’s Effects- you should now know about gravity, but now let’s extend it to space and on other planets. What is it’s effect? What does it mean when something is experiencing G Forces or is in a zero Gravity environment?
6. Momentum & Conservation of Momentum- it is mass in motion but how is it in play in your rockets? Study what are key factors in calculating the momentum of different objects.
7. Impulse & Momentum- an important concept in collisions and something that all rocket scientists should know especially in minimizing impact of landing a rocket safely back to earth.
8. Projectile Motion- rockets travel on this path especially in orbit but it is related to the vertical and horizontal directions of an object in motion. All objects have this type of motion as there are forces in the x and y directions.
9. Planetary Orbits- of course our rocket will not experience orbit, but it is crucial to all space travel and of course all the thousands in orbit around earth at this very minute!
10. The Moon- what is the moon? How does it differ from the earth and what is unique about the Moon? What were some significant explorations of the moon?
11. Altitude & Tracking Altitude (Math Concept)- Altitude is critical in all flights and different conditions exist at different altitudes. How will we track how high our rockets fly?
12. Atmospheric Pressure- what is it? What is a barometer? Why is it important and how does it effect weather patterns...if you have ever flown, weather can impact your flight!
13. Velocity(Math Concept)- of course you know this, but in space travel, astrophysicists speak in terms of light speed, light years, and speed of sound, sonic booms, etc. What does this mean and how is it used in talking about the distances to other planets and worlds?
14. Space Facts- things function differently here on earth than they do in space. What are some key studies we know about and what they are telling us about living in space?
15. Functions (Math Concept)- a function is how two things are related to each other (one thing is dependent on another) and is a central math concept. Showcase how functions are related to Rocket Science…..you know one already, Acceleration is a function of force and mass.