Model Rocket Lab Report

Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science

Honors Physics B5

By: Mikayla Christiansen

For: Mr. Hendricks Honors Physics Class

 Abstract
For this project, there were four lab subdivisions completed: Engine Thrust Analysis,
Drag Force, Numerical Model, and Flight Results. These labs prepared for the day of the rocket
launch. Through these labs, average thrust, engine types, air resistance, drag coefficients, and
predicted heights of the rockets were analyzed and calculated. Each lab was a prerequisite for
the next, and together they allowed for comparison of the measured heights of the rockets to
those of the predicted heights. The analysis of the measured heights then followed. The
predicted heights of each rocket with each engine type are shown below and are compared to
the results from the launch.

Rocket and Engine Used Predicted Height Actual Height

Large Red/Silver Rocket With A Engine 29 29

Medium Red/Yellow Rocket with B Engine 132 125

Small White Rocket with A Engine 36 61

Large Red/Silver Rocket with B Engine 69 82

Medium Red/Yellow Rocket with C Engine 280 381

Large Red/Silver Rocket with C Engine 128 132

Introduction

The purpose of this lab was to bring together all of the information learned in the physics
course thus far. Through the completion of this lab, the connection between several physics
theorems were able to be explored. The application of physics in real-world situations became
evident.
The use of several physics terms are present in this report. They are defined below as
follows:
Kinematics -- the study of motion without the study of the cause of the motion
Dynamics -- the study of motion including the study of the causing forces
Momentum -- the mass of an object multiplied by its velocity
Impulse -- the force an object is exerting multiplied by the time the force is being exerted
Impulse, j, is also equal to the change in momentum, P, of an object. This
theorem can be derived from the above definition of impulse: j=F*t. In Newtons
first law, it is stated that F=ma. Therefore, j=ma*t. The a can then be replaced
by its definition, v/t, creating the equation j=m*v because the ts cancel out.
v can then be written as vf-vi (velocity final minus velocity initial) giving the
 equation j=m(vf-vi). By distributing the m, the equation becomes j=mvf-mvi, which
can then be written as j=Pf-Pi, or j=P.
Thrust -- the force that propels a flying object in motion
Drag Force -- a force moving opposite to the object in motion (in this case, air
resistance); equal to the drag coefficient times the velocity squared of the object
Drag Coefficient -- variable k used to calculate the drag force; consists of air density, and
objects size and shape
Delay Time -- the time between the motor burnout and the rockets parachute opening
Numerical Iteration -- a mathematical procedure which is repeated several times--the
answer from the previous iteration is used for the next iteration; a way of estimating a
solution. (In this lab, numerical iteration was required to predict the height of the rockets.
This is because the problem had to be looked at in several small, dissected pieces, then
put together because the velocity and height of the rockets were constantly changing. By
analyzing the rockets in small time intervals, better approximations were able to be
reached.)

The reference to several types of rocket engines are also present in this report. Rocket
engines are labeled by their impulse, average thrust, and delay time. The impulse of an A
engine is 2.5, the impulse of a B engine is 5, the impulse of a C engine is 10, etc. The
engines are named as follows: designated impulse letter & average thrust - delay time. For
example, a C6-5 engine has an impulse of 10, an average thrust of 6N, and a delay time of 5
seconds.

Engine Thrust Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of this lab was for the students to become well enough acquainted with
impulse to accurately estimate the impulse of a certain given engine, which would be needed
when predicting the final heights of the rockets.

How: This was a CBL--Calculator-Based Laboratory. A Datamate Program was used to collect
the data and insert it into a calculator.

Materials:
TI-84 calculator
Datamate Program
Calculator connecting chords
Rocket with confidential engine type
Ramp with digital force gauge and protective straps
Battery
Battery connecting cables
Igniter with phosphorous on the end
Plug (to hold igniter in place)
Procedure:
1. To begin the lab, the CBL and Datamate programs were set up to the rocket and
sensored ramp, as shown below.

2. When this was first set up, the sensor told that there was a force of -0.67 Newtons acting
upon it. This was because the sensor measured pushing forces as negative and pulling
forces as positive, and because the ramp was at an angle, the rocket was exerting a
negative (pushing) force onto the sensor. Before collecting any data, the sensor needed
to be zeroed out.
3. The calculator then needed to be set up. The calculator was set to record data every 0.1
seconds, to collect 30 data points (meaning that the experiment would run for three
seconds), to use triggering when the sensor decreased below -2N, and to pre-store 10%
of data. Triggering needed to be used to record these data points to ensure that there
was no human error with regard to failing to collect all of the data.
4. The battery then needed to be attached to the rocket. In order to do this, an igniter was
placed into the rockets engine and reinforced with a plug to help insure that the igniter
would stay in. The igniter was then connected to the battery cable. The set-up looked as
the image below:
 5. The calculator was set to begin recording data, the battery was turned on, and the
rockets engine immediately began burning. The battery ran an electrical current through
the igniter, causing it to take flame and begin the engine.
6. The calculator simultaneously recorded the data, storing the time values in the L1 list
and the thrust values in the L2 list. For the sake of the lab, the forces will be recorded as
positive, though the calculator recorded them as negative since the rocket was pushing
on the sensor. The first force was exerted at 0.3 seconds, and the last force was exerted
at 1.2 seconds. The following data points were recorded:

Time (in seconds) 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2

Force (in Newtons) 0.8 5.7 10.7 4.5 4.5 4.3 4.3 4.1 4.3 0.5

These data points created a graph like the one shown below:

This graph most closely

resembles the graph of a C6 engine.
This can be seen by comparing this
graph to those of the C6, B6, and A8
graphs shown below.
 7. Using these data points, the impulse of the engine was able to be predicted. This was
done by creating several rectangles to calculate the area under the curve, using
Riemann sums. Impulse is defined as force*time. Because each rectangle had the
same x-value, or time interval, the impulse could be calculated as follows:
0.1(0.8+5.7+10.7+4.5+4.5+4.3+4.3+4.1+4.3+0.5) = 4.37 Ns
However, this would only give an
approximate impulse, looking something
like the image shown to the right. To
find the exact impulse, the integral of
the function (area under the curve)
would have to be taken and this
information was not available.
a. From the impulse, the first part
of the engine type was able to
be predicted. A engines have
an impulse of approximately 2.5
Ns, B engines have an impulse
of approximately 5 Ns, C engines have an impulse time of approximately 10 Ns,
etc. 4.37 Ns is closest to a B engine, so the unknown engine was classified as a
B engine.
8. The average force the engine exerted could then be predicted using the formula Favg=
j/t. When using this formula and the impulse calculated above, the following calculations
were made: Favg = (4.37)/(1.2-0.3) = (4.37)/(0.9) = 4.86 N.
a. From calculating the average thrust of the engine, the second part of the engine
type was predicted. This part of the engine type is approximately the average
force exerted, so approximately 5.
9. The projected engine type was a B-5 engine.
10. The real engine type was then revealed as being a B-6 engine.

Analysis:
The calculations in the lab were close to revealing the true identity of the mystery engine.
However, the prediction was slightly off. This is because while the rocket was exerting a force
onto the sensor, the rocket slightly moved from side to side. This caused the calculations to
come out inaccurately -- enough to impact the average thrust in such a way that it was off. In the
final experiment, this will be taken care of because a hardware will be downloaded so that the
data collected will be more accurate.
 Drag Force (Air Resistance)

Purpose: The purpose of this lab was for students to be comfortable enough with air resistance
to both accurately calculate and predict the drag coefficients of the rockets that would be
launched.
This was an extremely important section of the lab. The drag force is equal to the drag
coefficient, k, times the velocity of the object squared (Fd=k*v^2). Force this reason, air
resistance could not be ignored in this lab, otherwise the predictions would be nowhere near the
actual heights the rockets would reach.
It was also extremely important to note what defines k. The constant is determined by the size
and shape of the object. For example, a rounded object has a smaller drag coefficient than a
jagged object of the same size.

Materials:
Rockets (the rocket that will be used for the actual lab and a smaller rocket)
Wind tunnel
String
Protractor
Ping pong ball

Procedure:
1. A ping pong ball with given mass, velocity, and angle was given (0.0023 kg, 12 m/s, 25,
respectively). Using this information, the drag coefficient, k, was to be solved for.
a. This was done by first drawing a free body diagram of the situation. The tension
in the string, T, could be rewritten as Tsin(), its horizontal component, and
Tcos(), its vertical
component.

b. Using the components

of the figure above, the
drag force on the ping
pong ball could be
calculated by breaking
the problem up into its
vertical and horizontal
components.
i. Beginning with the horizontal position (x), Fx=max. This equation could
then be rewritten as Tsin-Fd=0 because both Tsin and Fd are working
in the horizontal direction, but Fd is working against the ping pong ball,
and the acceleration of the ball in the horizontal position is zero.
Therefore, Tsin=Fd.
 ii. The vertical position (y) then needed to be used. Fy=may. This equation
was then written as Tcos-mg=0 because both Tsin and m g are working
in the vertical direction, but mg is pulling downward, and the acceleration
of the ball in the vertical direction is zero. Therefore, Tcos=mg, and then
T=mg/cos.
iii. Now that T was solved for, it could be substituted into the previous
equation, Tsin=Fd, to become Fd=mgsin/cos. This could be simplified
to Fd=mgtan.
iv. Plugging in the mass and angle of the ping pong ball, the drag force could
be calculated. Fd=0.0023*9.8*tan(25) Fd=0.0105N.
c. Once the drag force was calculated, the drag constant could be calculated using
the formula Fd=k*v^2 k=Fd/(v^2). Knowing that Fd=mgtan , the formula
k=mgtan/(v^2) could be used. Using the drag force calculated in the previous
step and the given velocity, k=0.0105/(12^2)=7.299*10^(-5)N*s^2/(m^2). This
constant was then rounded to
7*10^(-5)N*s^2/(m^2) because with this
type of problem, there is only one
believable significant figure.
2. A small red and yellow rocket (one of the rockets
that would be launched) with a mass of 0.061kg
was then hung from the the roof of a wind tunnel
using a piece of string. The tunnel had
honeycomb filtering to create laminar flow, or air
free of turbulence. The fan was then turned on
and blew against the rocket with a velocity of
30m/s. While the wind was blowing, the angle of
the rocket was measured by using a protractor, as
shown below. Three different test runs gave an
average of the rocket being at an angle of 25.
 3. Using this information, the drag coefficient could be calculated using the same formula
that was derived in step 1b: Fd=mgtan and then using the calculated drag force,
k=Fd/(v^), or rather k=mgtan/(v^2).
a. Using the given value of m, 0.061, 9.8 for g, and the averaged value of theta, the
function could then be written as Fd=0.061*9.8*tan(25) Fd=0.2788N.
b. The formula for k could then be written as k=0.2788/(30^2)
k=3.097*10^(-4)N*m^2/(s^2). This number was then rounded to
3*10^(-4)N*m^2/(s^2) because again, only one significant figure was believable.
4. Using this drag coefficient, the drag force was then calculated assuming the velocity of
the wind was 120 m/s. This was done because in reality, the rocket in the final lab will be
moving at a velocity of approximately 120 m/s. When using the formula Fd=k*v^2 with k
being 3.097*10^(-4) and v being 120, Fd was calculated as being 4.46N.
5. The real rocket that will be used in the final lab was then brought out. It was too large to
fit into the wind the tunnel, so the drag coefficient of this rocket had to be estimated
some other way. To estimate the drag coefficient, the size and shape of the ping pong
ball and small rocket were compared to that of the the large rocket. Though the front of
the rocket was more narrow than the ball, it was much longer and had fins jutting out of
the sides. Because of this, it was estimated that the drag coefficient would be
somewhere between 6*10^(-4) and 7*10^(-4)N*m^2/(s^2).

Numerical Model

Purpose: The purpose of this lab was for the students to become acquainted with numerical
iteration--to work the problems by both hand and spreadsheet--so that the heights of the rockets
when launched could be accurately predicted.

How: An Excel spreadsheet was programmed and used for the iterations of this lab. Numerical
iterations were required for this lab in order to accurately predict the heights of the rockets. This
section had to be broken up into several pieces in order to be analyzed. The velocities of the
rockets were constantly changing, and though this could not be completely taken into account,
the predictions were broken down into 0.1 second increments, making the data more accurate.

Procedure:
1. The height of one of the rockets that will be used in the final lab (the red/silver rocket)
with a C6 engine was predicted using the methods shown below:
a. The mass of the rocket was given as 0.089kg. The previously predicted drag
coefficient was used, 7*10^(-4). The first three iterations were done by hand.
b. The thrust at times t=0s and t=0.1s were 0.0N and 6.0N, respectively. Therefore,
the average thrust of the engine during this time period was 3.0N.
c. The initial drag force was zero.
d. The average net force was 2.13N. This was calculated by adding all of the forces
acting on the rocket during this time period. F=3.0-0.8722=2.13
 e. The average net impulse was then calculated to be 0.213. In order to find this,
the average net force, 2.13, was multiplied by the time period, 0.1, in order to
calculate the impulse.
f. The initial velocity of the rocket was zero.
g. The final velocity of the rocket was calculated using the impulse momentum
theorem: F*t=m*vf-m*vi. Therefore, vf=(F*t + m*vi)/m. Plugging in the known
values, vf=(0.213 + 0.089*0)/0.089=2.39m/s.
h. The average velocity over this time period was then 1.20m/s.
i. The predicted final height over this time period could then be calculated. This
was done using the formula D=R*T. Therefore, D=1.20*0.1=0.12m.
j. This was the end of the first iteration. The next three iterations were done by
hand, as well, using the same method. Each calculation iteration was completed
assuming that the rocket was remaining at a constant mass throughout its flight
(although this was not completely correct, the amount of mass loss was expected
to be insignificant), and always using the prior final velocity for the next initial
velocity. The prior final velocity was also used in calculating the drag force.
k. After the data was completely inserted into Excel, the projected final height of the
rocket was 158 meters at 5.8 seconds. Looking at the spreadsheet, it can be
seen that at 5.8 seconds, the rocket reaches its maximum height because both
heights above and below the height at 5.8 seconds are below 158 meters. This
can be seen on the attached spreadsheet at the end of this report.
l. Because the thrust of the rocket ended at t=2.0, and the rocket reached its final
height at 5.8 seconds, it was evident that a rocket with delay time of at least 4
seconds (C6-4) would be needed.
2. The Excel spreadsheet was then used to collect the following projected heights for these
rocket and engine combinations:

C6 B6 A8 A3

Red/Silver 158m 69m 29m

Red/Yellow 280m 132m 61m

 Small White 36m

Analysis:
After the projected final height with the drag coefficient for the red/silver rocket and the
C6 engine was calculated, a spreadsheet of the same rocket and engine without a drag
coefficient was calculated. When the drag coefficient was ignored, the rockets projected height
was 466 meters. This is nearly three times as high as the rocket would have traveled with air
resistance. From these calculations, the importance of air resistance in these types of problems
is evident. The difference air resistance makes is substantial and therefore cannot be ignored.
One thing to take into consideration is that the drag coefficient of the red/silver rocket
was only calculated to one significant figure. This means that the drag coefficient could be
anywhere between 0.00065 and 0.00074. If the drag coefficient was 6.5*10^(-4) then the height
the rocket would reach would be 164 meters. If the drag coefficient was 7.4*10^(-4) then the
height would be 154 meters. This shows the error that lies within the drag coefficient.

Flight Results
Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to compare the projected heights of rockets to the actual
heights the rockets reached.

Materials:
3 rockets of different sizes (small white, medium yellow/red, large red/silver)
A, A, B, and C engines
Igniters
Plugs
Rocket Stand
Protractors with string
Distance measuring device
Wadding

Procedure:
1. In the middle of a field outside, the lab
was set up. An A engine was placed
into the bottom of the red/silver
rocket, followed by the igniter and
plug. The rocket was filled with
wadding to protect the parachute from
getting burned. The rocket was then
placed onto the rocket stand and the
igniters wires were attached to the
battery, which was powered off.
2. Three people took protractors with strings attached to them and went in different
directions, each 50 meters
from the rocket. These
were the people calculating
how high the rockets
travelled. Three people
were needed for the job
because if only one person
was calculating the height,
the data would be
unreliable. This is because
the rocket would travel
upward at an angle and
needed to be viewed from
several different vantage points. Having several people measuring would make the data
far more reliable.
3. When those measuring angles were ready, the battery was turned on, and the rocket
shot off. As the rocket flew into the air, those with the protractors followed the rocket with
their gaze and measured the angle of the rocket at its maximum height.
4. To find the rockets maximum height, trigonometry was used. As seen below, the
maximum height of the rockets were equal to x+1.5 (1.5 meters being the average
distance between eye level and the ground). By using simple trigonometry, x can be
found as being equal to 50*tan(). Therefore, the height of the rockets were equal to
50*tan()+1.5.
 5. The angles calculated by each person measuring the angles of the red/silver rocket were
30, 29, and 28. To calculate the height, the average value of theta was used, 29.
Therefore, the maximum height of the red/silver rocket with the A engine was
50*tan(29)+1.5=29m.
6. This process was repeated with different combinations of rockets and engines. The
following data was collected:

Person 1 Person 2 Person 3 Avg Angle Height

Red/Silver A 30 29 28 29 29m

Red/Yellow B 60 64 79 68 125m

Small White A 51 50 50 50 61m

Red/Silver B 52 65 58 58 82m

Red/Yellow C 81 84 ---- 83 409m

Red/Silver C 69 71 66 69 132m

Analysis: Measuring the angles of the rockets was difficult when they flew high. The rockets
rarely flew straight upward, and the higher they went, the more difficult they were to see. This
allows for much more error when calculating the heights of the rockets that travelled farther.

Conclusion

The predicted heights of the rockets with each engine were as follows:

C6 B6 A8 A3

Red/Silver 158m 69m 29m

Red/Yellow 280m 132m 61m

Small White 36m

The following are the measured heights of the rockets with the specified engines:

C6 B6 A8 A3

Red/Silver 132m 82m 29m --

 Red/Yellow 381m 125m -- --

Small White -- -- -- 61m

Generally speaking, the results were in the ballpark of the predictions. The red and silver
rocket went the exact predicted height. The other predictions were for the same rocket were
also close to the actual height. However, the red and yellow rocket traveled much higher than
expected with the C6 engine, as did the small white rocket with the A3 engine. The data was
most likely farther off for the red and yellow rocket because the higher the rocket travels, the
harder it is to predict the height. With the small white engine, the largest error was most likely in
the prediction of the drag coefficient. The predicted drag coefficient was 2*10^(-4), though it is
most likely closer to 1*10^(-4) or maybe even 5*10^(-5). Using these different drag coefficients
would have resulted in the predicted height being either 39m or 42m, respectively. This
prediction is still quite a ways off of the actual measured height, however.
Another problem that was encountered within this lab is the fact that the velocity of the
rockets were always changing. They were always accelerating. This concept was too complex
to deal with in this lab, so the heights were predicted using numerical iterations. Although the
iterations were done in small enough increments that the margin of error was not significant, this
still played into a small amount of the inaccuracy with the final results.
Perhaps the fact that the rockets didnt launch completely straight up was what held the
largest margin of error. The numerical iterations completed in this lab did not take into
consideration the fact that the rockets would not be going completely straight upward because
this concept was too complex. There was also a wind strong enough to cause the rockets to
veer sideways. The problem with the rockets curving in their paths is that this completely
changes the way that the forces are acting on the rockets. In the model used for the numerical
iterations, it was assumed that the thrust would be acting straight upward and the drag force
would be working straight downward. However, this is not the case when the rockets veer
sideways, as shown below. This would have been enough to significantly skew the results.

Reflection
I enjoyed completing this lab. I liked taking all of the concepts explored in the class thus
far and applying them to a real-life project. It helped solidify the concepts into my mind and gave
me a better understanding of how things worked. At first, things seemed overwhelming.
However, as I took the project piece by piece, I feel like I was able to study each individual part
and come out knowing more than I did before. On top of learning physics, I thought it was super
fun! I had never launched a rocket before and now I can call myself a rocket scientist haha!