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MAIN ROCKETRY PAGE
GUIDANCE & ADVICE FOR TEACHERS
Before you commence this unit of work with a class, you need to to be aware of a number of issues and obtain information about conducting Model rocketry as a safe educational activity.
1) Check the safety requirements your school system has implemented regarding model rocketry. NSW Department of Education & Training teachers need to refer to the "Chemical Safety in Schools" document, Section 3.2.4.10.
2) Estes Industries are the main supplier of solid fuel rocket motors. It is essential that you visit the ESTES EDUCATOR website at http://www.esteseducator.com and access the information they have for the guidance of teachers. Other essential reading can be downloaded from: http://www.esteseducator.com/Pdf_files/1939_teacher.pdf
3) There is a list of many useful Publications that can be downloaded from the Estes website in Adobe Acrobat format and printed off as class reference material.
4) Download the United States National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Model Rocket Safety Code from http://www.nar.org/NARmrsc.html
5) Be aware of the regulations on model rocketry imposed in Australian airspace. Visit the website of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) at http://www.casa.gov.au
6) Understand the principles of rocketry and gain personal experience with the construction and launching of model rockets before introducing this to your class. Commercially manufactured solid fuel rocket motors and electrical launching must be used.
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY - ENGINEERED SYSTEMS
SITUATION
One of the reasons the human race has become the dominant animal species on earth is because of our inquisitive nature and our ability to think and solve problems. Exploration has been the motivating force for many of the technological advancements. Having travelled and explored the earth, it was only a matter of time and level of technological development before mankind started to explore areas beyond earth. Flight and space development gave us the means of extending our exploration boundaries.
DESIGN BRIEF
INVESTIGATION / RESEARCH
INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITY - # 1
HISTORY OF ROCKETSRegardless of what area you are designing in, it is important that designers have an appreciation and understanding of the historical background of the particular area in which they are working.
This activity will give you experience in obtaining information from the internet as well as a brief knowledge and understanding of the historical development of rocketry.
Follow these steps:
INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITY - # 2
PRACTICAL ROCKETRY
The majority of design work is involved in improving an existing design and making use of information gained by scientists and technologists in their previous research and investigations.
This activity will give you experience in obtaining information from the internet as well as an understanding of the basic principles of rocketry.
Follow these steps:
GROUP EXPERIMENTAL WORK ACTIVITIES
In order to gain a greater understanding of rocketry the class group will be divided into five smaller groups. Each group will work together as a team on one of five different experimental projects. Each group will then follow the experiment instructions to construct the particular object and upon completion they will demonstrate and explain to the entire class group what they have learnt about the principles of rocketry from their group activity.
These activities will give you experience in researching information from the internet, working together as a team as well as an understanding of the basic principles of rocketry
Group #1 - Bottle Rocket
Select this hyperlink to the NASA website. Open the Adobe Acrobat file
Bottle Rocket Launcher pdf file and print it off and also open Bottle Rocket pdf file and print it off. Read through the printed information material and decide the tasks and responsibilities of each group member. The group is then responsible for organising and managing the gathering of the required materials and tools (in consultation with the class’ Design & Technology teacher) and building the "Bottle rocket and Launcher" in the given time allowed by the teacher. The group will then demonstrate and explain to the entire class group what they have learnt about the principles of rocketry from their group activity.
Group #2 - Newton Car
Select this hyperlink to the NASA website. Open the Adobe Acrobat file
Newton Car pdf file and print it off. Read through the printed information material and decide the tasks and responsibilities of each group member. The group is then responsible for organising and managing the gathering of the required materials and tools (in consultation with the class’ Design & Technology teacher) and building the "Newton Car" in the given time allowed by the teacher. The group will then demonstrate and explain to the entire class group what they have learnt about the principles of rocketry from their group activity.
Group #3 - Paper Rockets
Select this hyperlink to the NASA website. Open the Adobe Acrobat file
Paper Rockets pdf file and print it off. Read through the printed information material and decide the tasks and responsibilities of each group member. The group is then responsible for organising and managing the gathering of the required materials and tools (in consultation with the class’ Design & Technology teacher) and building the "Paper Rockets" in the given time allowed by the teacher. The group will then demonstrate and explain to the entire class group what they have learnt about the principles of rocketry from their group activity.
Group #4 - Rocket Car
Select this hyperlink to the NASA website. Open the Adobe Acrobat file
Rocket Car pdf file and print it off. Read through the printed information material and decide the tasks and responsibilities of each group member. The group is then responsible for organising and managing the gathering of the required materials and tools (in consultation with the class’ Design & Technology teacher) and building the "Rocket Car" in the given time allowed by the teacher. The group will then demonstrate and explain to the entire class group what they have learnt about the principles of rocketry from their group activity.
Group #
5 - Balloon StagingSelect this hyperlink to the NASA website. Open the Adobe Acrobat file Bottle Rocket Launcher pdf file and print it off and also open Balloon Staging pdf file and print it off. Read through the printed information material and decide the tasks and responsibilities of each group member. The group is then responsible for organising and managing the gathering of the required materials and tools (in consultation with the class’ Design & Technology teacher) and building the "Balloon Staging" in the given time allowed by the teacher. The group will then demonstrate and explain to the entire class group what they have learnt about the principles of rocketry from their group activity.
INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITY - # 3
PARTS OF A MODEL ROCKET
Rocketry is an area where much research has been carried out and a base of knowledge has been built up. It is important that you are familiar with the terms used to describe the various parts of a model rocket.
This activity will give you experience in obtaining information from the internet as well as a brief knowledge and understanding of the main parts of a model rocket.
Follow these steps:
http://home.earthlink.net/~voraze/rocketry/rktpart.html
INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITY - # 4
ROCKET TERMS
As well as needing to know the parts of a model rocket, there are many terms used in the field of Rocketry. You need to be familiar with many of these terms.
This activity will give you experience in obtaining information from the internet as well as a brief knowledge and understanding of some of the terms used in model rocketry.
Follow these steps:
http://home.earthlink.net/~voraze/rocketry/glossary.html
INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITY - Optional Advanced Exercise
SPACE SHUTTLE
The Space Shuttle is a re-usable space vehicle that is launched by a powerful rocket carrying its payload of humans and equipment. Upon completion of the assigned activity in space, the space shuttle is able to re-enter the earth's atmosphere and glide to a touchdown on specially designed runways.
Go to the NASA Space Link webpage on the Shuttle to discover information on the Space Shuttle. The URL is
In pairs, under the guidance of your Design & Technology teacher, choose one of the following aspects about the Space Shuttle and give a brief report to the whole class on the information you have gathered about the Space Shuttle.
The 21st Century Space Shuttle
Shuttle Small Payloads Project (SSPP)
Space Flight Questions & Answers
INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITY - # 5
MODEL ROCKETS
Model rockets can only be powered by safe, commercially available solid fuel engines such as those supplied by the Estes Company. The following research activity will give you an understanding of the parts and function of a solid fuel rocket engine and the phases of the flight
1. Select Internet Research Activity #5 - Model Rockets Information
2. Print yourself a copy of these pages of questions.
3. Select the hyperlink http://www.esteseducator.com/cfusion/importantfacts.cfm
MODEL ROCKET SAFETY CODE
Every student must answer all questions correctly in the Model Rocket Safety Code Test question sheet before commencing construction and launch of the model rocket.
1) Select Model Rocket Safety Code Test and print a copy of the questions making up the safety test.
2) Select NAR Model Rocket Safety Code to find the answers to Questions 1 - 12.
3) Refer to the NSW Dept of Education & Training's "Chemical Safety in Schools" document, Section 3.2.4.10 to find the answers to Questions 13 - 20.
4)
Your Design & Technology teacher will file away your safety test as part of the school's records. You are to keep a photocopy of the safety test in your Rocketry Design Folio.
CONSTRUCTION OF MODEL ROCKET
The exercises and research you have undertaken so far in this unit of work has given you a very limited knowledge and understanding of Rocketry. You are not yet ready to build a rocket and space craft to take you to the moon! Keeping safety as the number one consideration, the next step in your development of Rocketry understanding is to work in groups of 4 or 5 under the careful guidance of your Design & Technology teacher to build a model rocket that is of a tested and proven design. It is important to adhere to the design specifications as given in the Assembly Drawings and Detail Drawings linked below.
1) Select Model Rocket Assembly Drawing and print a copy of these plans of the assembled rocket.
2) Select Model Rocket Detail Drawings and print a copy of these plans of the details of each component.
3) Select Specifications and print a copy of these construction details.
ALTITUDE TRACKING
Before Launch Day it will be necessary for you to either borrow several "Clinometers" from the Mathematics Department at your school or construct an Altitude Tracker and Altitude Calculator for each group. This device will be used to measure the maximum height that your group's rocket will reach.
Details on the construction of an Altitude Tracker can be obtained from the following NASA website on model rocketry. Click on the following hyperlink:
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/Curriculum.Support/Mathematics/Rockets/.index.html
Open the Adobe Acrobat file Altitude Tracking pdf and then print a copy.
Follow the printed instructions on how to construct and use the Altitude Tracker.
Additional information on mathematically calculating altitude, velocity and acceleration can be obtained from the Estes website: http://www.esteseducator.com/Pdf_files/Elem_Math.pdf
LAUNCHING OF MODEL ROCKET
Launch Day requires a lot of preparation.
1) Revise the Model Rocket Safety Code Test information.
2) Ensure that the weather conditions are suitable for launching.
3) Check that the launch site and procedure fulfils CASA regulations and school safety requirements.
4) Use only a safe, commercially available electrically operated Launcher such as that supplied by Estes.
4) NSW Dept of Education & Training safety procedures allow only the teacher to launch the rocket.
5) Download information regarding launching from:
http://esteseducator.com/Pdf_files/1924_launch.pdfand http://www.esteseducator.com/cfusion/launchsiteprep.cfm
6) Determine the role or task of each person for the launch day.
LAUNCH REPORT
Using a wordprocessor, write a brief report on the launching of the rocket and the results including the following information:
Include this report in your design folio.
L
OGO DESIGNDesign a Model Rocketry Logo to be used for your school or class.
Select Logo Design to obtain some information that may assist you in your design task.
File this information in your design folio.
WORD PUZZLE
Select Find a Word and print a copy of the puzzle and clues. When completed, file away in your design folio.
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