Monsanto Fund Grant Project Follow-up Activities and Demonstrations
Activity Name
Participant Name
Date
Materials
Description
Results
Problems
Pre/post test results
Student Comments
Soaring Straws
Bonnie Ekle
4/1/09
scissors, 3 plastic straws (not bendable), metric ruler, balance, empty toilet paper tube,
masking tape, 2 meter sticks, marker and rubber band
Cut rubber band. Center it on open end of tube, and tape securely. Should be tight,
but not dent the tube. This is your launcher.
Cut 3 cm from one straw and place it between two other straws, end to end. Tape
over the 3cm section attaching it to other two straws. This is the rocket tip. Mark 1 cm
increments along one straw, starting at the untapped straw end.
Starting 30 cm from floor, tape the two meter sticks on a wall. They will be used to
determine the height the rocket reached.
Place the taped end of the straws over the rubber band, with the straws through the
tube. Pull the rocket down and note the amount of stretch by reading increments on
the straw. Release rocket and note its maximum height. Release the rocket at three
different stretches, and have three trials of each stretch, with a calculated average of
each trial. Calculate the rockets gravitational potential energy at each stretch. (GPE in
mJ = mass of rocket in grams X acceleration of gravity (9.8 m/s^2) X average height
reached in meters.
The amount of stretch (elastic potential energy) is directly related to the rockets
gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy and height achieved.
One student should pull rocket for whole lab, partner observes max. height 1-2 meters
away from wall, and rubber band must be taped securely, along with using a firm paper
roll. This should reduce frustration and errors in the lab. Someone with quick responses
should observe rocket height, and students should be informed that their rockets cannot
fly above the 2 meter mark, or it cannot be recorded. (They will love to see how high it
will fly….)
Students define independent, dependent variables, graph results with GPE and stretch,
determine how to find kinetic energy, determine relationship between GPE and stretch
(elastic potential energy), and also define where in rocket’s flight they can locate KE, GPE
and EPE. Also recognize that ME = PE + KE . With probe-ware, rocket speed can also be
determined.
Students completely enjoy this lab. They are so devoted to it that I allow 1 ½ to 2 class
periods for completion. It is one of the most favorite labs in the semester.