Into Space!
While building and testing model rockets fueled by antacid tablets, students are introduced to the basic physics concepts on how rockets work. Students revise and improve their initial designs. Note: This activity is similar to the elementary-level film canister rockets activity, but adapted for middle school students.
Figure 1. The impressive launch of the Atlas V rocket for travel to Pluto.Copyright National Aeronautics and Space Administration http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/141078main_liftoff3.jpg
To probe the depths of our solar system, engineers design creative solutions for space travel. They apply their knowledge of physics, specifically Newton's third law (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction), to determine rocket specifications. When designing rockets, engineers must consider many aspects, including, but not limited to, weight, drag and thrust. Teams of engineers investigate how each of the rocket's features impact its performance. Using what they've learned from research and experimental results, engineers build small rocket prototypes (models) to test new designs before they build full-scale spacecraft.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Use physics concepts to describe how a rocket is propelled upward.
- Identify design features that maximize the height the rocket travels.
- Design an experiment to investigate how various properties of the rocket affect its performance.