Hello readers, For this term we have been learning about Forces and Motions.
That being said we did an experiment involving a Bottle.
We had to make that Bottle into a Rocket, whether it be to decorate it or strategically add parts to the bottle to make it Aerodynamic. The three ways a group could win was for Most Creative / Visually pleasing, Distance Travelled and Speed.
Aim:
To Calculate the speed of the rocket, to understand the forces that acted on the rocket to show our learning of this entire unit.
Equipment: Bottle, Cardboard (optional), Paper (optional), Sharpie / Markers (Optional), Stop watches, Tape Measure, Rubber Cork, Launch Station and an Air Pump.
Method: First of all we started to look for some inspiration for the Rocket, after we had finished that we got to working on our ‘Myong’.
- We grabbed the bottle
- Then we started to wrap it in Yellow Paper.
- After taping the paper on we made the Rice Hat.
- Using the leftover cardboard pieces we made an unfortunate decision to hot glue the fins on.
- We glued the hat on.
- I drew a silly face on it.
- We tried to tape the blue paper onto it but it fell off before launch.
- We filled about a third of it with water.
- Then we put the Rubber Cork into the bottle attaching it to the launch station.
- Then we pumped it and off it flew to a glorious 9.9 M accidentally almost hitting someone.
Results: Include distance/ time recordings, your speed calculation, and picture.
The Average time calculated from the six results given was…
1.83.
To calculate the average we added all of the results together then divided by how many times we were given.
2.22+2.0+1.81+1.42+1.25+2.32 = 11.02 then we divided that by 6 to get 1.83 s for the average time.
To calculate speed we use the distance travelled divided by the average time.
9.9M divided by 1.84s = 5.4m(ms-1)
Distance travelled (m) : 9.9 m
Time taken (s) : 2.22s, 2.0s, 1.81s, 1.42s, 1.25s & 2.32s
Speed calculation (ms-1)
Distance / Time = 5.4m(ms-1)
9.9 M
Discussion:
What are the forces acting on your bottle rocket?
Thrust, Drag, Weight and Air Resistance.
Are they balanced/ unbalanced?
Unbalanced.
What is net force and how does this relate to the forces acting on your bottle rocket?
The total forces combined of all of the forces acting on an object. Which is making it go upwards further and then drag comes into action to make it have a slower fall.
There are four main forces acting on this rocket, Air Resistance from the fins on the rocket, Drag because it is falling after take off, Weight because of the amount of water and items added onto the rocket Thrust because of the take off since the pumping helps assist it in going further and faster.
What are the strength of forces acting on it at different stages?
Thrust at the start is greater than anything because it shoots off helping to propel it through the air. Drag during the last two stages because of the Weight which drags it down through the air to come to a stop. Air Resistance helps it have a safer fall during the last few stages. Weight just pulls it down.
How do the forces acting on the bottle rocket affect the motion of the bottle rocket at different points?
Thrust helps it shoot off from the ground making it travel faster, Drag pulls it down with Air Resistance which does help it have a safer fall while weight does pull it down too because of the amount of items on the bottle.
Why do you think results may vary in the class?
Because some people might’ve gotten a further distance and longer times or some might’ve travelled slower but achieved faster times.
Conclusion:
How was your bottle rocket successful/unsuccessful and why (relate your answer to physics ideas)?
Successful because it launched and went a little far.
Unsuccessful because it hit someone. How could you improve it?
Make the hat more pointy