Cover letter

This project aims to create beautiful work with our knowledge of velocity, acceleration,
and what factors play into flight, as well as how we can combine physics, math, and the
engineering design process.

Leading up to building our rockets we also explored quadratic functions (anything with
an X^2). The importance of studying this equation was because it represents the curve the
rocket creates. Once we had all our knowledge lined up we applied the Engineering
Design Process. The 7 steps are ask, research, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve. Each
step is essential if you want to create beautiful work. For example, We are asked the
question “ How to build a successful water rocket and how do you describe its flight?”
that led us to research what designs would best fit this assignment. After researching we
imagined what we would achieve and started planning. We tested and improved many times
until we felt like we achieved this assignment. Then using the information we gathered
from our tests we were able to find the position of our rocket and variables we can use to
find the initial velocity and at what points our rocket accelerated.

The position of our rocket is how far it is from the ground and is constantly changing
after we launch the rocket.

Velocity is change over time. To calculate velocity you would use the equation
displacement/change in time. Then taking velocity/ time you will find what rate the velocity
changed. This is called acceleration. Acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity of an
object. An example of this would be when your car starts speeding up, you are accelerating at a
faster rate than you were before.

Calculations

To find the time of max-height we watched a frame by frame video of our rocket’s starting
flight. To do this we used an iPhone camera because it shoots 30 frames per second. Using
the video my partner and I counted the frames of the video starting at the time of launch
until our rocket reached max height before decelerating down. We counted 90 frames,
using quick math 90 divided by 30 equals 3 seconds of max height and a total of 10 seconds of
flight time.

Then to find the max height of our rocket we used SOH (sin (0)= opp/hyp)
CAH (cos(0)= adj/hyp TOA (tan (0)= opp/adj. The two variables we already had
was a Horizontal Distance from the launcher of (100ft) (adj) and the angle
of our rocket (64.0 ft). Trying to solve for X. We use tangent to solve for x
because the two sides in use are Adjacent and Opposite.

After we had found our max height and time of the

max height we were able to find our initial velocity.
To do this we used the formula given ( h(t)= -½ (g)
(t^2) + v0 (t) + y0). We listed all our know variables
and constants
● t=3
● g=32
● yo= 1.5
● v0= ?
● h(t)= -16t^2 + V0t + 1.5

The next step for us was to find the derivative usng the equation above .
-16t^2 represents force of gravity, when you multiply -16t^2 by the max
height (in this case 3) you will get -32t. From there you will find the
derivative ( -32t+ vo). To solve for v0 you multiply 32 by 3 to get vo = 96. The
next step we took was taking the derivative to show us what the slope of the
line is.
The final part of our calculations were finding the theoretical flight time. To do this we used
2
−𝑏± √𝑏 −4𝑎𝑐
both the standard form of quadratic ( ax^2 + bx + c) and the quadratic formula ( 2𝑎
). In
our case a= 16 b=96 and c=1.5. When plugged in to these formulas you will get -16t^2 + 96t + 1.5 and
2
−96± √96 −4(16) (1.5)
2(−16)
Once we plugged that into a calculator we were given -0.02 and 6.02. In
this case only 6.02 represents our theoretical flight time.
Blue Print
 Reflection

When creating or building anything you are going to face challenges. During this project,
my partner and I faced many challenges such as our rocket was heavy, the first tube we had
was tilted, the second tube we had was too big, and our backup parachute wouldn’t deploy.
To fix most of these issues we resecured the larger tube by cutting into our second water
bottle (not the pressure chamber) and gluing it to the top of the
pressure chamber
This secured the tube and kept it from tilting, leading to a
straighter flight for our rocket. The second challenge we
navigated through was getting rid of our backup parachute because
our rocket was landing just fine with only the backslider
technique, this got rid of some of the weight leaving our rocket
at 212 grames.

Although we had complications we also had successes. The first

success was that our rocket was durable, we never had to rebuild
our fins or pressure chamber. The second success was despite the weight our rocket flew up
to 205 ft. The third success was that even though our rocket had many detachable parts
(just in case we had to do a quick rebuild) they all stayed attached to
the rocket during flight.

I would want next year’s sophomores to know to make sure their

rocket stays light if you are doing a backslider parachute try to
balance out the weight for a more successful landing and to make
sure that the tube on your rocket is nice and secure.

I believe that the turning point for me and my partner was when you
bought a new tube. The tube we had before was cut up into many pieces
and then taped together, this led to a tilted tube which made our rocket curve instead of
accelerating straight up into the air. Once we replaced that tube our rocket flew
straighter and once we resecured the new tube our rocket performed even better.

If I was to do this project again I would definitely make our rocket lighter by using a
smaller tube that maybe wasn’t as long, as well as using a smart water bottle. I would also
just rely on the backslider technique because my partner and I wasted a lot of time making
the backup parachute when we could have been testing different ways to make our rocket
lighter.