ROCKET SCIENCE

Sue Yon Kim

B3 Physics H.
Mr. Hendricks
Academy of Math, Engineering, and Science





Abstract







Introduction
Kinematics defined as the study of the motion of bodies without reference to mass or force.
Dynamics defined as the branch of mechanics that is concerned with the effects of forces on the
motion of a body or system of bodies, especially of forces that do not originate within the system
itself. Impulse defined as is the change in linear momentum of a body. Drag force is known as
air resistance. Drag coefficient is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an objects and the
value of drag coefficient depends on the size and shape of the object.
The impulse/momentum theorem is derived with using Newtons second law and definition of
acceleration.
J = Ft
J = m*a*t
J = m*(v / t)*t
J = mv = m (v
f
- v
i
)
J=P
f
- P
i

The first experiment is Engine Thrust Analysis. The purpose of this experiment is to know what
kind of engine (A, B, or C) is after the calculation of area under the curve of impulse graph.
The second experiment is Drag Force (Air resistance). The equations of Newtons second law
and drag force are derived and use the calculation of it. The rocket which is inside the wind
tunnel tells us the angle and mass.







Engine Thrust Analysis
There are two purposes in this experiment. One is to find and predict the engine type of the
rocket. Other purpose is to find out exactly how much thrust (force) the engine puts out at each
tenth of a second interval.

























































Drag Force Analysis Air Resistance


The purpose of this experiment is to determine the drag coefficient (k
d
) using the rocket
movement in a wind tunnel. The rocket movement was measured by its angle during wind
tunnel test. Physics shows that the drag force is proportional to the square of velocity of a fast-
moving object. Based upon the free body diagram of drag force model, the drag force (F
d
) is
determined by mass (m), angle (), and gravity force (g) with using the Newtons 2
nd
law.

III. CALCULATION AND WIND-TUNNEL EXPERIMENT
III-1. Calculation














Figure 1 Figure 2

Using Figure 1, the drag force (F
d
) is derived using mass (m), angle () due to wind force, and
gravity (g). Using the Newtons 2
nd
law and drag force equation.

F = m a, F
d
= K
d
V
2

F = T cos m g

Since F = F
d
,
T cos m g = F
d


Since there are two unknowns, tension (T) and drag force (F
d
) in the above equation, two
additional equations are needed as shown in Figure 2.

In X-component :
F
x
= m a
x
(a
x
= 0)
F
x
= T sin F
d
= 0
T sin = F
d

T = F
d
/ sin -- (1)

In Y-component :
F
y
= m a
y

F
y
= T cos m g = 0
T cos = m g (2)

Plugging Equation (1) into Equation (2), then

F
d
cos / sin = m g sin

Thus, the drag force becomes a function of angle without T in the equation as following

F
d
= m g sin / cos

F
d
= m g tan

III-2 Wind-tunnel Experiment


Figure 3. Wind-tunnel experiment set-up Figure 4. Rocket inside the wind tunnel

Wind-tunnel is designed to produce a wind force against a rocket. A protractor is attached to the
top of wind-tunnel inside, and the rocket model is hanging downward from the top of the tunnel
inside.

The angle (27 degrees) of rocket is measured with a protractor during the wind-tunnel
experiment. The mass (0.061 kg) of rocket and the wind velocity (15 m/s) are given in the class.
From the measurements the drag force is calculated. The drag coefficient can be derived as
following:

F
d
= K
d
V
2

K
d
= F
d
/ V
2
(3)

F
d
= m g tan
= 0.061 x 9.80 x tan 27
o

= 0.3046

Using Equation (3), the drag coefficient becomes

K
d
= F
d
/ V
2

= 0.305 / (15)
2
= 0.00135
[END]