Why study rockets???

•Review of Important Science topics

•Introduction to a possible life long hobby

•FUN,FUN,FUN...

http://www.thespaceplace.com/history/space.html

http://history.nasa.gov/

Early Rockets- Chinese

• Early historic accounts are unclear but it is commonly agreed that the Chinese were the first.

• More like modern fireworks• Ceremonial uses• Salt, sulfur, charcoal packed into

bamboo rods and lit on fire.

Modern Rocketry

• Early 20th. Century – Robert Goddard early experiments

• One successful early attempt lasted 2.5 seconds and traveled 41 feet into the air

Modern Rocketry (con’t)

• German Scientist – Werner Von Braun

• V-2 rocket was developed as a weapon of war.

• Von Braun moved to the US and worked for NASA

Modern Rocketry

• Began with Soviet Sputnik launch.• Continued use by the US and Russia for

transport into space. • 18 nations currently have the abilities to

build and launch space craft into orbit.

Rocket Science

• Newton’s Laws• Aerodynamics• Momentum• Inertia• Drag• Acceleration• Trust

FIRST LAW OF MOTION: Objects at rest will stay at rest and objects in motion will stay in motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

• Objects in space will always travel in a straight line (no forces acting on it)

• Our rockets will travel straight until the forces become unbalanced and gravity pulls the rocket back to EARTH

Second Law of Motion: Force is equal to mass times acceleration

• When the speed of an object is changed.

• All rockets will launch with the same force – equal engines.

• Each rocket will have different masses.• Acceleration will be the greatest for the

lightest rockets.

Newton’s third Law of Motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

• Rockets the action is the exhaust gases escaping out of the back of the rocket. The reaction is the rocket moves forward into the atmosphere.

Aerodynamics

• Rockets must be absolutely smooth to reduce DRAG and increase aerodynamics. All excess glue will be removed and no pieces or action figures may be attached to the rocket. Anything extra or added will destroy the aerodynamics and result in an unsafe flight.

Safety

• All directions must be completed.• All rockets will undergo a safety

inspection to assure safe flights.• All outside rules must be followed to

continue to participate.• Any rules violation may result in removal

from the building or launch processes.• More detailed rules to follow

www.acsupplyco.com

Build this launch pad… Look at the web site below

www.info-central.org/support_launchpad.shtml

To see more ESTES rocket images.