Rocket Flight Analysis
Team Members:________________________________
Measure
flight time
and angle
Rocket when
ejection
Rocket when ejection charge is seen.(white puff of smoke)
Launch site
baseline
You need ONE Successful launch. Two are written here in case the first launch is unsuccessful.
2nd Launch
1st Launch
Variables
Engine type used
Avg Thrust Force of engine(N)
Mass of rocket before launch
(include engine and wadding)(kg)
Mass of propellant kg
Average mass during thrust stage kg
Thrust time (s)
Time to maximum height (s)
Total flight time (s)
Baseline (m)
Angle at maximum height/ejection
charge (degrees)
Calculated Maximum height (m)
Cross sectional diameter of rocket (mm)
Parachute diameter (mm)
Calculate acceleration of rocket during thrust stage
Free body diagram
F=F(net)=ma
Fthrust -Wavg=mavga
a= Fthrust -Wavg/mav
Thrust Force (N)
Final Thrust velocity
Vf =vi + at
(t= thrust time)
Net Force
F(net)=ma
Thrust displacement
d=1/2at2
(t= thrust time)
Weight (N)
Thrusting stage calculations table
Launch trial
Thrust time(s)
Acceleration(m/s/s)
Final Thrust
Velocity (m/s)
Displacement
during
thrust
stage (m)
1st
2nd
Coasting stage calculations table
Assume final thrust velocity = initial coasting velocity
d= 1/2gt2 + vit (g= -10m/s/s)
Launch trial
Time
maximum
height (s)
to Coasting
(s)
time Initial coasting Displacement to
velocity (m/s)
ejection charge
during coasting
stage (m)
Total
displacement to
ejection charge
height (m)
Data calculated from "Model Rocket Altitude Predictor" internet site
http://webalt.markworld.com/webalt.html
Launch trial Height to ejection Peak
speed Total flight
charge(m) (use time (m/s)(same as final time (s)
from above table)
thrust velocity)
Determine percent error for ejection charge height between your
calculated values, Internet site, and actual data (use your internet site
data as the true value)
Your calculated value ignores air resistance. The Internet site includes air resistance.
Your calculated values. Internet site
Actual measured value vs. Internet site
Discussion of results and conclusions
Be sure to discuss all of the aspects of the flight of your rocket (thrusting, coasting and
recovery stages) and compare it to the theoretical flight of your calculations and of the
internet site. Don't be brief!!!
More PHUN PHUN PHUN
Links to Model Rocket formula and descriptions
http://www.rocketmime.com/
http://my.execpc.com/~culp/rockets/rckt_sim.html
http://www.rocketmime.com/rockets/rckt_eqn.html