Model Rocket Project

Purpose

The purpose of this project is understanding how different components of a model rocket effect its flight

Procedure

-Design the optical rocket in RocketSim

-Measure and cut body of rocket

-Cut 4 fins for the rocket

-Attach fins with grain PERPENDICULAR to the body

-Paint body with spray paint

-Assemble engine mount

-Attach shock chord to body and nose cone

-Attach parachute to nose cone

Simulation

We made our body length 6 inches to maximize the

height by reducing weight.

We chose our fin design through a series of trial and errors to find the design that would maximize height.

We chose our nose cone design for its light weight and aerodynamic design.

This shows our theoretical maximum height with all components listed before.

Construction

For the body, we measured out the length on a piece of paper, and wrapped the paper around the tube we were using for the body in order to ensure an equal length throughout the tube. W then cut the tube with a hack saw. Next, we sketched out our fin design on a piece of paper, then traced that design on balsa wood. Next, we cut the fins (making sure the design would ensure that the fin's grain would be perpendicular to the body) and attached the fins with hot glue and reinforced it with wood glue.

For the Engine mount, we first got the motor tube and inserted the metal clip. Then, We placed the band about half way up the metal clip, then hot glued on the two adapters and reinforced it with wood glue. We then put wood glue around the outside of the adapters and inserted it inside the body.

Next, we supported the shock chord by gluing it to a trapezoid piece of paper and folding the paper over itself to ensure proper support. Then we glued the folded trapezoid and shock chord to the inside of the body tube. we then attached it to the nose cone by a triple knot, and then attached the parachute by looping the stings through the clip on the nose one and pulling the parachute through.

Test

Describe what you did to test your rocket before flying. Insert a picture if you have it.

To test our rockets, we first tested the engines by strapping the engines into a stable structure and test launching it.

We then tied a string to our rocket on its center of gravity and swung it around our heads to make sure our rockets are aerodynamic.

IMG_2917.MOV

The curves are upside down because some dumb-dumb didn't reverse the graphs. The other inconsistencies are due to the resistance from the rocket stand.

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