Activity 2.2.4 Rocket Engine Test
Introduction
Rocket engines are designed to generate thrust to lift a rocket into the air. The
maximum height and payload capacity are limited to the thrust that an engine can
produce.
In this activity you will record force information and video footage of a model rocket
engine while it is burning. This information will be compared to published
specifications and used for the rocket design.
Equipment
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Engineering notebook
Pencil
PC with Logger Pro Force sensor
Small "A" base
45 cm stainless steel rod
Dual-Range Force Sensor
Vernier Go Link adapter
Video camera
Rocket engine
Igniter
Launch controller
Estes Time-Thrust Curves
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AE Activity 2.2.4 Rocket Engine Test – Page 1
Procedure
1. Assemble the test stand, force sensor, and video camera. Make sure that the
rocket engine blast area is in a safe direction. Clamp the base of the stand to a
secure surface to prevent the stand from moving. See the image below as an
example.
Engine Test Configuration
2. Confirm that the Vernier Dual Range Force sensor is set to +/- 10 N to test an Aengine or +/- 50 N when testing B, C or D-engines.
3. Start Vernier Logger Pro software.
4. Connect the Dual Range Force Sensor to the Go Link. Connect the Go Link to
the PC USB port. The software should recognize the sensor.
5. Prepare to gather data.
a. Click Experiment in the menu at the top of the screen. Click Data
Collection to set acquisition parameters.
i. Click the Collection Tab and change Length to 30 seconds.
ii. Click the Triggering Tab and set the trigger as Increasing across
0.3 N. Change the Collect Samples before Triggering to 5. See
example below.
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AE Activity 2.2.4 Rocket Engine Test – Page 2
Collection Options
Triggering Options
b. Click the Go! Force Display in the top left corner. Click the Go! Dual
Range Force icon in the dialog box. Click Reverse.
Reverse Direction of Positive Force
6. Adhere to the rocket safety instructions presented to you in class.
7. Insert the appropriate rocket engine into the force sensor adapter.
8. Prepare the igniter using the procedure shown below.
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AE Activity 2.2.4 Rocket Engine Test – Page 3
9. Initiate data collection
a. Click Zero on the menu as shown below. This will reset the force to zero
before collecting data.
b. Click Collect on the menu.
10. Clear the test area before igniting the engine.
11. Initiate the force data acquisition and video recording.
12. Call out a countdown so that others in the area are aware that an engine is being
ignited.
13. Ignite the engine and continue the recording until the ejection charge has fired.
14. Stop the data and video recording.
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AE Activity 2.2.4 Rocket Engine Test – Page 4
15. Dispose of the engine and igniter.
16. Print the force graph and compare it to the rocket manufacturer specifications.
Calculate the percentage difference between the force data collected and the
manufacturer’s specification. Calculate the percentage difference between the
time delay observed and the manufacturer’s specification. This data will be used
again in a subsequent activity.
17. Prepare the data and video in a format specified for your teacher.
Estes data
Our data
Impulse N
5N
4.34 N
Time delay
4
3
% difference
0
13%
Time % difference
0
25%
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AE Activity 2.2.4 Rocket Engine Test – Page 5
Impulse N
Estes data 10
Our data
8.7
Time
delay s
5
5
% difference Time %
difference
0
0
13%
0
Conclusion
1. Explain why your data was or was not comparable to the engine manufacturer’s
specifications.
Both sets of our data was lower than the manufactuers, ours could have
been old or weather and humitity could have effected them.
2. What are alternative applications for the rocket engine?
Bombs, we can fly bombs, and hit people with bombs and
bombs. Bombs. Or the UPS could use them.
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AE Activity 2.2.4 Rocket Engine Test – Page 6