Embedded Files
Problem Statement
Penelope O’Meara and Aubrey Winczewski will design a rocket, built with one laser cut or 3D printed piece and primarily made of recycled materials, that can launch at least 20’ into the air. The rocket must be launched with homemade rocket fuel that is safe to handle on school grounds. The rocket will be constructed by Reagan Kurt and Ava Tuohy at Northern High School according to a procedure written by Aubrey Winczewski and Penelope O'Meara. The rocket will be launched behind Northern High School's tennis courts from November 1st-20th.
Constraints
The total cost of the project cannot exceed $25.
Students should use recycled materials as much as possible (ex. soda bottles and corks).
Students cannot use more than 25 grams of any active ingredient in their reaction (maximize the reaction with limited materials by figuring out how to build up the most pressure).
Rocket fuel must be safe (no additionally equipment required to handle besides the what the classroom provides) to use according to their respected MSDS'
No contact between the people constructing the rocket and the people who designed the rocket besides the procedure, emails, zooms, or texts (nothing in person).
References
Adams, D. (2016a, September 8). 4 Ways to Build Your Own Rocket At Home. Digital Trends. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/how-to-build-a-rocket
This site explains how to build 4 DIY rockets.
Air Command Water Rockets. (2019). Air Command Water Rockets - 30 tips to make your water rocket fly higher. Aircommandrockets.com. http://www.aircommandrockets.com/flying_higher.htm
This site has 30 tips on how to make your rocket fly higher.
Andersson, E. (2019). Preliminary design of a small-scale liquid-propellant rocket engine testing platform. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1375729/FULLTEXT01.pdf
This is a detailed scientific paper on rocket propulsion.
Beals Science. (2019, April 22). Making Hydrogen Fueled Mini-Rockets. Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/V6VPJA2jg7s
How to make mini-rockets using pipettes.
Bengtson, K. von. (n.d.). To Build a DIY Spacecraft is a Daunting Task and, Not Surprisingly, Getting It Up Where It Belongs, in Space, Is No Less of a Problem. Wired. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.wired.com/2011/12/to-build-a-diy-spacecraft-is-a-daunting-task/
Common problems you may face when building a rocket.
Crew, B. (2015, February 3). WATCH: Cooled-Down Caesium in Water Is The Most Beautiful Explosion. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/watch-cooled-down-caesium-in-water-is-the-most-beautiful-explosion#:~:text=When%20caesium%20makes%20contact%20with
Information about the very reactive Akali metal Caesium.
Dingertz, W. (2017). HPGP ® -High Performance Green Propulsion ECAPS Polish -Swedish Space Industry Meeting. https://polsa.gov.pl/images/news/Swe_Pol_2017_Prezetacje/Swe_Polish-Space-Ind_SpS_ECAPS_Presentation.pdf
Powerpoint presentation on propulsion systems.
Exploding elements: Alkali metals in water. (2011, November 10). The Kid Should See This. https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/alkali-metals-water#:~:text=Five%20out%20of%20the%20six
This reviewed six Akali metals that react with water.
Harball, O. (2020, January 3). Building a model rocket engine at home. Medium. https://medium.com/@orion.bob.h/building-a-model-rocket-engine-at-home-9e1043b39098
This is how a tutorial on how to build a basic rocket engine.
HOW to DESIGN, BUILD and TEST SMALL LIQUID-FUEL ROCKET ENGINES ROCKETLAB / CHINA LAKE, CALIFORNIA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from http://www.cientificosaficionados.com/libros/cohetes.pdf
Scientific paper that reviewed detailed instructions on how to build a small rocket.
iCreatables. (2014, October 21). How To Build The Simplest Water Bottle Rocket Launcher. Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/gyOzvqmUs4c
A review on how to build an air-powered rocket launcher.
Instructables. (2007, August 10). Soda Bottle Water Rocket. Instructables; Instructables. https://www.instructables.com/Soda-Bottle-Water-Rocket/
How to make a water rocket using a pressurized water bottle.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (2020, April 27). Chemical Reaction Rockets with Dan. Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/_4rG5FjQUaQ
This video explored how to use chemical reactions to make a propulsion rocket.
Motherboard. (2018, December 6). The DIY Rocketeer Building SpaceX Replicas of Self-Landing Rockets. Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/xvtzKox3QYg
A video about self landing rockets, but did review some laser cutting ideas.
NAROM. (2016, October 19). The engine types: liquid, solid and hybrid … and a fourth. NAROM. https://www.narom.no/undervisningsressurser/sarepta/rocket-theory/rocket-engines/the-engine-types-solid-liquid-and-hybrid-and-a-fourth/
This goes over the various types of engines inside of a rocket: liquid, solid, and hybrid.
NASA. (2015). Liquid Rocket Engine. Nasa.gov. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/lrockth.html
Diagram of a liquid rocket engine.
NJ.com. (2016). BOOM! See explosions created using household chemicals. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xg_f3gpcnE
This one explains how to use various household chemicals to make explosions.
GreenKidCrafts (2021). How to make a DIY Bottle Rocket from a Plastic Bottle. GreenKidCrafts. https://www.greenkidcrafts.com/how-to-make-a-diy-bottle-rocket/
How to make a bottle rocket from a plastic water bottle.
Project Air. (2020, May 20). DIY High Power Rocket. Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/xvUdCdlQav0
3D printed rocket with nine thruster engines.
ReviewOutdoorGear. (2013, July 15). Awesome homemade AIR POWERED bottle rocket! Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/R625vwA4jpQ
A water rocket using a 2L soda bottle.
Rocket - Liquid-propellant rocket engines. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/rocket-jet-propulsion-device-and-vehicle/Liquid-propellant-rocket-engines
This talks about how liquid propellant rocket engines work by having different tanks and mixing the chemicals.
Rocket aerodynamics. (2021). Science Learning Hub. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/392-rocket-aerodynamics#:~:text=Fins%20control%20direction%20and%20stability
This talks about rocket aerodynamics; it covers ways to minimize drag and air resistance.
Rocket Engine, Cutaway, Liquid Fuel, Radiamic | National Air and Space Museum. (n.d.). Airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/rocket-engine-liquid-fuel-radiamic-cutaway-also-designated-c-1/nasm_A19760799000
Pictures of different shaped rocket nozzles.
Smithsonian Channel. (2013, June 12). Punkin Chunkin. Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/dmSyrGsqmg8
Launching pumpkins into the air with homemade catapults.
Steve Spangler Science. (2019). Chemistry Rocket (Acid/Base Reaction) | Experiments | Steve Spangler Science. The Lab. https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/acid-base-rocket/
This talks about the chemistry of a soda bottle rocket.
TKOR. (2012). Homemade Rocket Fuel (R-Candy) [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUYxk-y-tU8
Re-using common household items to make a rocket.
TKOR. (2014). How To Make Sugar Rockets [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12fR9neVnS8
How to make a rocket using sugar and kitty litter.
Top Fives. (2020, September 22). 15 Homemade ROCKETS that are Incredible. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKwheRjKtPA
This reviews 15 amazing homemade rockets and their designs.
PRODUCT NAME: Acetic Acid 15%. 1 July 2015. https://www.anchemsales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/acetic-acid-15-july-15.pdf
MSDS of 15% Acetic Acid.
Material Safety Data Sheet Acetic Acid Solution, 10%. 23 Jan. 2009. https://www.mccsd.net/cms/lib/NY02208580/Centricity/Shared/Material%20Safety%20Data%20Sheets%20_MSDS_/MSDS%20Sheets_Acetic_Acid_10pct_3_10.pdf
MSDS of 10 percent Acetic Acid.
Brainstorming
Fin Material:
Wood (Laser cut) (Balsa b/c lightweight?)
Plastic (3D printed)
Sheet metal
Cardboard
Rocket body:
Plastic bottle
Reusable plastic water bottle (We have too many at our house)
PVC pipe
3D printed
Nose cone:
3D printed
Fuel:
Powdered sugar
Other parts:
Dry grass clippings
Parachute cut from a plastic bag
Launchpad:
Upside down plastic crate
Cardboard box (not very stable though)
One of those mats you would put on the floor of a kitchen that is flat and hard enough to be sturdy.
Building and Chemistry Procedure for Rocket Version 1
Rocket procedure.pdf
Procedure for Rocket Version 2
Results
The rocket was launched 3 times using a vinegar and baking soda reaction. Unfortunately, the rocket never went airborne. This was due to two main reasons: the porous quality of the cork and the lack of volume inside the rocket. The chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide--which is meant to build up air pressure inside the rocket. Theoretically, the rocket would hold air until it built up to a certain point, which is when the rubber stopper would be pushed out. This air that released the rubber stopper would then propel the rocket upwards. However, because the rocket was not airtight, it was impossible to build up air pressure. The reaction still worked (so it continued to function as the fuel for all three tests), but without an airtight structure, the rocket would not launch. Additionally, the space inside the rocket could not hold 100mL of the necessary vinegar solution. This made it difficult to carry out the reaction without spilling the required ingredients. Changing the amount of vinegar solution was difficult because any higher percentage of acetic acid would be dangerous to work with, and the criteria specified a safe reaction.
Improvements:
Use stronger glue or melt a lid onto the rocket to keep it airtight.
Glue a small test tube to the underside of the rubber stopper to ensure that the reaction could occur without spilling any of the reactants.
Sanding down the outside of the rocket body until a significant amount of PVC pipe was shaved off. This would make the rocket lighter and easier to launch.
A larger rocket body (in terms of length) to have the ability to store more than 100mL of solution.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse