Rocket Project
Cover letter:
Near the end of physics, there was one last project to be done. This project used bottle rockets in order to teach us subjects such as calculating Max height, initial velocity, time of max height, and how to calculate the theoretical flight time of an object from a video. First up, we had to build a bottle rocket using multiple examples of rockets from a website that gives out multiple examples of bottle rockets. Then we had to test them out and refine them by issues we had while testing them. Then it was time to launch them for real. After doing that, we had to calculate position, velocity, acceleration, etc, in which position is what direction the rocket flew in, velocity is the directional speed of the rocket, and acceleration is how fast the rocket accelerated. And we had to calculate this using the quadratic formula (Ax^2+Bx+C) in which A,B,and C represent numbers, and A is not equal to 0.
Near the end of physics, there was one last project to be done. This project used bottle rockets in order to teach us subjects such as calculating Max height, initial velocity, time of max height, and how to calculate the theoretical flight time of an object from a video. First up, we had to build a bottle rocket using multiple examples of rockets from a website that gives out multiple examples of bottle rockets. Then we had to test them out and refine them by issues we had while testing them. Then it was time to launch them for real. After doing that, we had to calculate position, velocity, acceleration, etc, in which position is what direction the rocket flew in, velocity is the directional speed of the rocket, and acceleration is how fast the rocket accelerated. And we had to calculate this using the quadratic formula (Ax^2+Bx+C) in which A,B,and C represent numbers, and A is not equal to 0.
Blueprint:
Calculations:
Max Height: 186.5
To find max height we had to first draw a right triangle. In this triangle the adjacent is the camera we used to record our rocket’s launch’s length from the launcher, which was estimated to be 200 feet away, the opposite is the rocket’s horizontal distance from the launcher, which was 210 feet, the angle the rocket flew in was 43 degrees, and the hypotenuse was our max height. We had to calculate the results using SOH CAH TOA, and due to the fact that we did not have the hypotenuse, we had to go with TOA (opp/hyp) which gave us the formula tan(43)=y/200, which gave us our answer 186.5 feet for our max height.
Time of max height: 5 seconds
To calculate the time of max height, we had to download the video of our rocket launch and analyse it frame by frame until we find the one which represents the time of max height. When our rocket reached max height, it was 150 frames from the frame the rocket was launched at. Which gave us 5 seconds till we reached max height.
Initial Velocity: 298.27ft/s
After finding max height and time of max height, it was time to find initial velocity. We took what we knew, our flight time, 18 seconds, the force of gravity, 32ft/s^2, the height of the base, 1.5 and the max height, 186.5. We used flight time as t, gravity as g, base height as Y0, and max height of H(t). We plugged these values into the formula of initial velocity (H(t)=-½(g)(t^2)+V0(t)+Y0) and ultimately got the initial velocity, 298.27ft/s.
Theoretical Flight Time: 18.65 seconds
Finally, it was time to calculate the Theoretical Flight Time. We used the same formula for initial velocity, but with our initial velocity substituted for our initial velocity (298.27ft/s) with this, we had to find three numbers and label them A, B, and C. In our equation, we found that -½(32) which multiplies to -16 represents A, 298.27 represents B, and 1.5 represents C. After that, we had to put our A, B, and C into a quadratic formula calculator and get our theoretical flight time. We got two supposed results, -0.01 and 18.65. Because there is currently no way anyone can go back in time, and seeing as it is especially not a plastic bottle rocket, that means our theoretical flight time is 18.65 seconds.
Reflection:
My biggest challenge during this project must have been the struggle I had to make a nose cone. I just kept trying and trying to make a good nose cone but I just cannot produce a good nose cone. I kept trying to give up, but I was always pressured to make a nose cone. Finally, after what felt like a thousand attempts, I finally got a good nose cone, albeit, a little bit small. So we had to make sure the parachute fit under there due to the parachute release mechanism being that one where when the rocket falls from the sky, the nose cone slides up a tube and releases the parachute. But even with all the effort, it still did not deploy, although the rocket did fall sideways allowing it to fall slower.
I succeeded a fair amount of times during this project. But there are only two things that I can really think about. One is persevering through the nose cone struggle and finally coming out with a decent nose cone. Yeah, it was small, but a small one is better than none at all. The other one is the blueprint from above. I also managed to persevere through the bad writing shown on the rubric and make a decent blueprint, showing accurate sizes and descriptions. So in conclusion, the best advice I would give to next year’s sophomore class is to persevere and do your best. Because if you persevere, you can get your goals done eventually.
A good turning point for me during this project was the blueprint. The blueprint above is not actually the original blueprint, it is just a recreation. Unfortunately, the original blueprint was destroyed, I do not know how it was destroyed, it was just destroyed. Up to this point, I had the impression that I was not doing that much during this project, yeah, I made the parachute, but that was really just it. But when the time came to make a new blueprint, I rose to the occasion and crafted a new blueprint for our rocket. I can apply this in my life in this scenario, if I am not doing much, I gotta look for an opportunity, and if I find an opportunity, take it.
The only important thing I learned in this project is how to work with people. I feel like I did an example of what not to do until the end during this project. But now that I know what to do, I feel like I will be able to apply my knowledge of working with a group in future projects or even during my career. I have gained a newfound knowledge for working with people. Overall, failure is just a path to success.
If I were to do this project again, I would try my best to do more for my group. Yes I did something pretty important near the end, but overall, I only really helped my partner (Elias) with minor things. It was not till the very end when I rose to the occasion and worked very hard on the blueprint. And now I really wish I had done more in this project such as making the fins or making the pressure chamber. But, I suppose the blueprint at the end is ok as it is.
To find max height we had to first draw a right triangle. In this triangle the adjacent is the camera we used to record our rocket’s launch’s length from the launcher, which was estimated to be 200 feet away, the opposite is the rocket’s horizontal distance from the launcher, which was 210 feet, the angle the rocket flew in was 43 degrees, and the hypotenuse was our max height. We had to calculate the results using SOH CAH TOA, and due to the fact that we did not have the hypotenuse, we had to go with TOA (opp/hyp) which gave us the formula tan(43)=y/200, which gave us our answer 186.5 feet for our max height.
Time of max height: 5 seconds
To calculate the time of max height, we had to download the video of our rocket launch and analyse it frame by frame until we find the one which represents the time of max height. When our rocket reached max height, it was 150 frames from the frame the rocket was launched at. Which gave us 5 seconds till we reached max height.
Initial Velocity: 298.27ft/s
After finding max height and time of max height, it was time to find initial velocity. We took what we knew, our flight time, 18 seconds, the force of gravity, 32ft/s^2, the height of the base, 1.5 and the max height, 186.5. We used flight time as t, gravity as g, base height as Y0, and max height of H(t). We plugged these values into the formula of initial velocity (H(t)=-½(g)(t^2)+V0(t)+Y0) and ultimately got the initial velocity, 298.27ft/s.
Theoretical Flight Time: 18.65 seconds
Finally, it was time to calculate the Theoretical Flight Time. We used the same formula for initial velocity, but with our initial velocity substituted for our initial velocity (298.27ft/s) with this, we had to find three numbers and label them A, B, and C. In our equation, we found that -½(32) which multiplies to -16 represents A, 298.27 represents B, and 1.5 represents C. After that, we had to put our A, B, and C into a quadratic formula calculator and get our theoretical flight time. We got two supposed results, -0.01 and 18.65. Because there is currently no way anyone can go back in time, and seeing as it is especially not a plastic bottle rocket, that means our theoretical flight time is 18.65 seconds.
Reflection:
My biggest challenge during this project must have been the struggle I had to make a nose cone. I just kept trying and trying to make a good nose cone but I just cannot produce a good nose cone. I kept trying to give up, but I was always pressured to make a nose cone. Finally, after what felt like a thousand attempts, I finally got a good nose cone, albeit, a little bit small. So we had to make sure the parachute fit under there due to the parachute release mechanism being that one where when the rocket falls from the sky, the nose cone slides up a tube and releases the parachute. But even with all the effort, it still did not deploy, although the rocket did fall sideways allowing it to fall slower.
I succeeded a fair amount of times during this project. But there are only two things that I can really think about. One is persevering through the nose cone struggle and finally coming out with a decent nose cone. Yeah, it was small, but a small one is better than none at all. The other one is the blueprint from above. I also managed to persevere through the bad writing shown on the rubric and make a decent blueprint, showing accurate sizes and descriptions. So in conclusion, the best advice I would give to next year’s sophomore class is to persevere and do your best. Because if you persevere, you can get your goals done eventually.
A good turning point for me during this project was the blueprint. The blueprint above is not actually the original blueprint, it is just a recreation. Unfortunately, the original blueprint was destroyed, I do not know how it was destroyed, it was just destroyed. Up to this point, I had the impression that I was not doing that much during this project, yeah, I made the parachute, but that was really just it. But when the time came to make a new blueprint, I rose to the occasion and crafted a new blueprint for our rocket. I can apply this in my life in this scenario, if I am not doing much, I gotta look for an opportunity, and if I find an opportunity, take it.
The only important thing I learned in this project is how to work with people. I feel like I did an example of what not to do until the end during this project. But now that I know what to do, I feel like I will be able to apply my knowledge of working with a group in future projects or even during my career. I have gained a newfound knowledge for working with people. Overall, failure is just a path to success.
If I were to do this project again, I would try my best to do more for my group. Yes I did something pretty important near the end, but overall, I only really helped my partner (Elias) with minor things. It was not till the very end when I rose to the occasion and worked very hard on the blueprint. And now I really wish I had done more in this project such as making the fins or making the pressure chamber. But, I suppose the blueprint at the end is ok as it is.
Rocket Launch: