Rocket Questions

What are the three laws of motion?

First law/ Law of Inertia
An object that is not acted will remain still unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An
object in motion will continue in motion with the same speed and same direction unless
acted on by an opposite force (Newtons Laws of Motion.)
Second Law
Acceleration is produced when a force acts on an object. The greater the mass of the object,
the more force needed to accelerate the object (Newtons Laws of Motion.)
Third Law
For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action (Newtons Laws of Motion.)

What are the basic fundaments of flight?

Lift
Gravity or otherwise known as Weight Force is the force that pulls matter downwards. Lift
on the other hand is the force that acts upwards, in order to go upwards the lift needs to be
able to oppose Gravity, this is achieved by increasing the air movement over and under the
aircraft’s wings (Principles of Flight.)
Thrust
Thrust is the force that moves an object forward, this is achieved by the use of engines and
or gravity (Principles of Flight.)
Drag
Drag is the force that opposes thrust. It is caused by air resistants; the amount of drag can
change depending on the shape of the aircraft or sometimes the air resistants (Principles of
Flight.)

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(Drag)

Explain the Aerodynamics that might affect your Rocket?

The Object
The shape of a rocket has a large effect on the aerodynamic forces produced especially the
roughness of a rocket, if the rocket is smooth it will produce less drag but if its rough it will
produce a greater amount of drag which in turn will cause it to decrease the maximin height
(Factors that Affects Aerodynamics.)
Nose Cone
The Nose Cone can affect the amount of darg too. If the Nose Cone is quite blunt at the end
their will be an increase in drag and the opposite if its sharp at the end (Factors that Affects
Aerodynamics.)
Thrust
If there isn’t enough Thrust, then the rocket will not be able to produce enough lift for the
rocket to fly (Factors that Affects Aerodynamics.)

What is Terminal Velocity?

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Terminal Velocity is the point where an object falls but doesn’t gain or lose its speed. This is
caused because when an object falls it initially starts to speed up, but as it gets faster and
faster the drag forces starts to increase with it, until it eventually becomes equal with the
gravity force causing the object to neither
speed up or slow down (Study.com.)

What is the Formula for Kinetic Energy?

K.E. = 1/2 mv2 (Reference.)

How to use the formula:

(Terminal Velocity)
Kinetic Energy is shown as Kgm /s
2 2.

V stands for velocity (TutorVista.)

M stands for mass (TutorVista.)
First you times V by itself. Then you ½ the mass. Finally you times the Mass by Velocity to
equal Kinetic Energy (TutorVista.)

List all the Components Necessary to Build a Model Rocket

Fins:
According to Apogee rockets the best fin for small rockets is the parallelogram fin (Apogee
Rockets) which will be made of a light weight wood which I can sand to make an aerofoil
shape, this will heavily decrease drag forces on fins but keep enough drag to stabilise the
rocket (ScienceLearn.) The rocket will also have 3-4 fins because if you have any more fins
and it will have an increase in drag which will decrease the speed of the rocket causing it to
stop mid-air (Nakka Rocketry.) I will glue it on with hot glue.
Engine:
Black Powder Engine- I will be using the black powder engine which is the most commonly
used engine for model rockets, they are a single use engine and are made out of a paper
tube with a clay nozzle (Lunar.)

(Black Powder Engine)

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Measurements:
The nose cone top has a width of 33mm, a length of 33mm and a height of 65mm and the
bottom of the nose cone will have a length of 29mm and a width 29mm and will have a
height of 30mm. The rocket body will have a width of 32mm and a height of 335mm. The
fins will be equal and will also be around ¼ of the size of the rocket and will have a length
will be 7cm (Answer Fins.) The parachute will be 84cm in diameter and will be circular
(Properly sizing parachutes for your rockets.)
Parachute:
For my Parachute I’ll be using Ripstop Nylon (MaterialsForModelRocketsRetrieved.) My
Parachute will be the standard parachute shape you see when people skydive (Properly
sizing parachutes for your rockets.)

Rocket Nose Cone: (Parachute)

The Rocket Nose Cone will be 3D Printed and will be 33mm in width, have a length of 33mm
and a height of 65mm.
My Nose Cone will be curved at the top and it will
resemble a bullet shape (answer.) The Nose Cone will
be light weight so the rocket can fly well with out
stopping suddenly in mid-air due to excess weight
(Answer.)

(Nose Cone)

What are the Main Stages or Rocket Systems for Building a Rocket?
Know what your Rocket needs to do?
First you need to find out what your rocket needs to do, once you have found that out you
can find what type of rocket you’re going to do (NASA.)

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Establish Mission Parameters
You need to research to get the best data you can get and figure out what you need to do to
complete you mission (NASA.)
Call in Experts
Work with rocket engineers and listen to other ideas (NASA.)
Start Designing
Now you need to start your rocket designs (NASA.)
Pick the Best Designs
Now after drawing up all your designs you need to choose the best one for the mission, the
design which is the safest, most sustainable and affordable to produce (NASA.)

What Variations of model Rockets Exists?

There is only one variation of a model rocket I can find and that is a solid fuel rocket,
which means that the rocket uses solid fuel such as black powder to produce thrust.

What are the Various Sizes of Black Powder Engines?

(about impulse classes

Size Available Impulse Diameter mm Length mm

Classes
10.5 x 38 1/4A, 10.5 38
1/2A
10.5 x 47 A 10.5 47
10.5 x 89 B 10.5 89
13 x 45 (T mini 1/2A, 13 45
Engines A
13 x 50 B 13 50
18 x 50 C 18 50
18 x 70 A, B, C, D, E 18 70
18 x 77 D 18 55
21x 95 D, E 21 95
32 x 107 F, G 32 107
(Lunar)

According to CASA, what Regulations Exist Regarding the use of Model Rockets?
Model Aircraft Safety Considerations

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  Choose an unobstructed site and at all times keep clear of
People
Vessels
Vehicles
Structures (Advisory Circular.)

 Only Fly
In suitable weather
With regard for any other conditions such as local bylaws
with due consideration for other people and property (Advisory Circular.)

 Models Weighing up to 25kg

Unless approval has been obtained beforehand, model aircraft should only be flown
(Advisory Circular.)

 Max Height Allowed to be Achieved Without a Permit

below 400ft above ground level unless: (i) clear of controlled airspace, and (ii)
further than 3 nautical miles from any aerodrome (Advisory Circular.)

What is the Maximum Height Model Rockets can Reach Without a Permit? What Size
Rocket Engine do you Hypothesize will be used for your Project Based on your Knowledge
from the Previous Questions?
The Maximum Height
The maximum height a model rocket is allowed to reach without a permit is 400ft above sea
level or 121.92m (Advisory Circular.)
Hypothesise
I hypothesise that the black powder engine will be 3.2cm in diameter and 10.7cm in length
so that the engine doesn’t take up all of the space of the rocket and so that the parachute
can stay far away from the engine so it doesn’t catch on fire.

Reference list:

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Apogeerockets, (Date Unknown,) Technical publication 16 What fin is the best shape,
Retrieved from https://www.apogeerockets.com/Technical_Publication_16
MaterialsForModelRocketsRetrieved (Date Unknown,) Parachutes retrieved from
http://www.ukra.org.uk/docs/youth/MaterialsforModelRockets.pdf
ScienceLearn, 30/9/11, Rocket Aerodynamics, Retrieved from
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/392-rocket-aerodynamics
Nakka rocketry, 26/8/18, How many fins? Retrieved from http://nakka-
rocketry.net/fins.html
Lunar, (8/4/18,) Black Powder Engines, Engine Sizes, Retrieved from
http://www.lunar.org/docs/handbook/motors.shtml
Answer (Date Unknown,) What is the shape of a cone, Retrieved from
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_types_and_shapes_of_nose_cones_on_rockets
Properly sizing parachutes for your rockets, 7/10/05, Parachute Design, Retrieved from
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter149.pdf
Newtons Laws of Motion, 10/24/06, First Law of Motion, Second Law of Motion, Third Law
of motion, Retrieved from http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/Newton/
Principles of Flight, (Date Unknown,) Weight and Lift, Thrust and Drag, Retrieved from
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/299-principles-of-flight

Nose Cone, (Date Unknown) Retrieved from

http://thingiverse-rerender-
new.s3.amazonaws.com/renders/83/0a/f9/59/6d/noseCone4_preview_featured.jpg

Factors that Affect Aerodynamics, 19/10/15, The Object, Retrieved from

https://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/factord.html
Reference, (Date Unknown,) What is the Formula for Kinetic Energy? Retrieved from
https://www.reference.com/science/formula-kinetic-energy-6503e6a2da1858e6
Study.com, (Date Unknown,) Terminal Velocity, Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-terminal-velocity-definition-formula-
calculation-examples.html
NASA, (9/7/15,) Designing a Rocket in Six Easy Steps, Retrieved from
https://blogs.nasa.gov/Rocketology/2015/07/09/designing-a-rocket-in-six-easy-steps/

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TutorVista, (Date Unknown,) Solved Examples, Retrieved from
https://formulas.tutorvista.com/physics/kinetic-energy-formula.html
Answer Fins, (Date Unknown,) How do you choose the right fin sizes for model rockets,
Retrieved From http://www.answers.com/Q/What_fins_work_best_for_model_rockets

Advisory Circular, (1/7/02,) Model Aircraft Safety Considerations, Retrieved from

file:///C:/Users/JMcGr/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe
/TempState/Downloads/101c03.pdf

Parachute, (Date Unknown,) Retrieved from

http://organizationalphysics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/rocketparachute.jpeg

Terminal Velocity, (Date Unknown,) Retrieved from

https://thescienceclassroom.wikispaces.com/file/view/terminal_velocity.gif/227267382/ter
minal_velocity.gif

Black Powder Engine, (Date Unknown,) Retrieved from

https://engineering.purdue.edu/AAE/research/propulsion/Info/rockets/images/rockets/soli
ds/blackpowdermotor.jpg

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Drag, (Date Unknown,) Retrieved from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/VirtualAero/BottleRocket/airplane/Images/drag1.gif