Fly Me to the Moon (or at Least Higher) Testing Rocket Designs
Physics and Astronomy- Grade:
- 6
- Teacher:
- Cindy Adkins
My project is about engineering the most aerodynamic rocket design to increase the altitude my rocket can fly. I tested three different nose cone designs and three different fin designs to determine what causes the rocket to fly the highest. Using the data I gathered, I engineered an original rocket design that would exceed the altitude of my test flights without using extra fuel or materials. I chose this project because I am interested in rocketry and how astronauts get into space. My overall results showed that a very pointy nose cone and trapeziodal fins are the ideal shapes for maximum altitude. I also learned that rockets take a lot of force and heat during take off and this caused me to develop stands for the rocket. My project is important because it will help scientists and engineers to understand different rocket designs that can help us get to other further planets such as mars.
You clearly followed the engineering design process to improve the flight altitude of your rockets. I was especially impressed by the detailed parts list, which demonstrates thoughtful consideration of cost and practical design. You also defined clear success criteria and used an iterative testing approach to refine individual components, resulting in a final prototype with improved performance. Excellent application of engineering principles
Your drawings are fabulous! I can tell you put a lot of thought into the fin and nose cone designs. I’m amazed at how much better your design performed compared to the control – it maxed out the altitude tracker! Amazing! I encourage you to continue to improve your design considerations for making the rocker more robust so it can be reused more times. Good job! I think you’ll make a fantastic rocket engineer.