Simulated Flight

We are aware of the fact that to get to the moon we need a rocket. A rocket has tonnes of propellant that it burns in order to move up rapidly to space. The top of the rocket has a capsule where astronauts are seated.

A rocket needs thrust(force) to move forward which is generated by the rapid ejection of propellants from its nozzle which is place at the back of the rocket. In order to lessen drag on its surface, a rocket is always in the shape of a cylinder. The tip of the rocket which is called the nosecone is an ogive shape which cuts through air in front of it effectively, just like the bow of a boat that cuts through water to move forward. The center of mass of a rocket should also be taken into account as otherwise the rocket might tip over during the flight. 

In this challenge students will make a water rocket. A water rocket is a model rocket made out of a soda bottle(coke, pepsi, etc). The rocket is partially filled with water while the rest is full of pumped air. The high pressure of the air inside pushes the water out rapidly as soon as it is released from the launcher, creating thrust. Thrust causes the bottle rocket to move forward, as explained by Newton in his Third Law of Motion("Every action has an equal and opposite reaction").

For the rocket to move forward the center of mass should also be at the right position. To do that students will attach fins to the rocket. Also a small weight will be added inside the nose cone of the rocket to keep the rocket stable.