Maximum Height Travelled by a Model Rocket - Lab Report Example

Prediction of the Maximum Height Travelled By a Model Rocket

The determination of rocket field is useful when in the quest for determining how high a rocket flies, at a given moment. In this lab, the major objective was to predict how high a rocket model could fly once launched. This involved acquiring a model rocket, then launching it to determine the figures for the various variables. Another related objective was to apply equations for basic projectile motion in determining how high a rocket can fly.  Since launching the model rocket, this is considered a projectile motion influenced by the height of the launch pad, gravity, and velocity imparted by the engine. Consequently, there was a need for compiling this towards calculating the maximum height fled by the model. In order to achieve the above objectives, the following equation for the projectile motion was inherent.

Where Y0 = 0 m (height of launch pad)

V0y = 170 m / s (velocity imparted by the engine)

g = 9.81 m / s2 (gravity)

The presence of drag was assumed in this case.

In the field of engineering, involving the study of lift, thrust, gravity, and even thrust, there is a great deal for considering this study. This experiment is important in the engineering field, especially where there is a need to improve the design and reliability of air travel. It enables the study of lift required for the planes to fly thereby allowing the aerospace engineers to guide for a safe landing.

Problem statement

In aerospace engineering, there is a need for engineers to have adequate knowledge of rocketry concepts; otherwise, they would experience challenges when trying to launch either rockets or satellites for a safe landing. Predicting how high a model rocket flies is one of the integral concepts required when exploring the rocketry concept, to help the engineers in guiding the rocket to a safe landing.

Apparatus

Materials:

Launchpad

            Rocket, base, and washers

            Angled wooden wedges

            Heavy-duty air pump

            Stopwatches

            Long Measuring Tape

            flags

            Protractor/plumb line

Work

The following are the results

Voy= 170

g = 9.81

The following is the table for time (t) vs the expected height  for 2.5-second intervals for the first 35 seconds

From this table, a graph of height vs time was drawn as follows:

The graph shows that the plot for height vs time is a projectile motion.

The maximum flight time calculated from excel

= 34.66 seconds

From this, the time t was calculated

= ½ of 34.66

= 17.33 seconds

In solving for

Y0 = 0

 = 170

G = 9.81

T = 17.33

0 + 170 x 17.33 – ½ *(9.81 x 17.332)

Ymax = 1472.99 meters

Discussion

For this rocket model, the results show that the time taken to reach the maximum height was 17.33 seconds while the maximum flight time was 34.66. The determination of the time required to reach the maximum height made it easy to use the projectile motion equation (Post 377). The velocity imparted by the machine was already known as 170 m/s. This speed is the same for all rockets regardless of the launch angle because they are necessarily pressurized chambers. As it is in every projectile motion, the horizontal velocity remains constant as shown in the model drawn below. The graph obtained from the results also supports the fact that launching a model rocket assumes a projectile motion as shown in the similarity between the two.

Getting the maximum time taken helped in solving for the maximum height, through the assistance of the projectile motion equation. The height calculated was 1472.99 meters. Slight errors resulting from this experiment may have been caused by experimental mistakes such as taking the readings from the involved apparatus. There could have been a slight variance in taking the readings. Further, determining the accurate expected height resulted in figures obtained that were up to 4 decimal places, thereby prompting the rounding off and truncating errors.  A possible future experiment that could result from this lab is the determination of the maximum height traveled by plane.