The Effects of the Shape of Nose Cone Travel in a Rocket

10/13/15-10/16/15

Sharon Xiao
Introduction:
In studying build paper rocket, we wondered which elements made rockets travel
further or keep in air longer. So I choose change the shape of nose cones to be
my manipulated variable, and controlled other variables such as shape of body,
that means when we are launched, I can see whether shape of nose cone make
rocket travel further. To change the shape, I choose triangle, rectangle and
flower, and for each one I made two nose cone, that make me investigate data
easier and more obvious.

Hypotheses:
Alternative Hypothesis:
The triangle one might be the one which traveled the most furthest.
The rectangle one might be the most closest.
Null Hypothesis:
All of the rocket traveled to the same distance.

Materials:
10 pieces of computer papers
block gine and scissors
1/2inch PVE pipe
eraser
pencil
Adam and your mind :)

Methods:
To make a rocket, I first made 6 bodies
1.
Find the 1/2inch PVE pipe
2.
Find a piece of computer paper, and roll the paper on the pipe(not too
loose or too taut, just make sure the roll can be pipes size)
3.
Use block gine and use scissors to cut it for 3 times, the length of block
gine need to tie up the sew of roll suitably.
4.
Paste block gine on the sew of roll, each one need to be separate in same
length.

Put the roll-paper(body) on the open mouth of launcher, make sure the
end of body are on the yellow strip on the launcher exactly.
6.
Do same thing as step 1-5 for 5 times again.
Second, I made 18 tail fins:
1.
Draw a rectangle on the computer paper, the length is 3.3cm long, and the
width can be 0.5-1cm long.
2.
Appress the length of the rectangle, draw a right triangle, and the other
side of triangle is 3cm long.
3.
Use scissors to cut down the shape that in sets of rectangle and triangle.
4.
Fold the rectangle in the length next to triangle
5.
Use scissors to cut down block gines, the length of block gines need to
almost same as the length of rectangle.
6.
Paste block gine on the other sides of rectangle, and stick the shape(fin)
on the end of the bodys surface.
7.
Paste block gine on the end of triangles surface, to make sure my fin is
stable enough.
8.
Stick other fins, and make sure each fins are separate in same length.
9.
Do same things as step 1-7 for 5 times again.
Third, I made 2 of rectangle nose cones:
1.
Put the body on the paper, and make sure it is up-right.
2.
Draw a circle along the edge of bottom of body.
3.
Draw two vertical diameter through the centre of the circle.
4.
From two end of diameter, draw two same vertical to diameter and straight
lines, then connect them.(It will looks like a rectangle and a part of them
are overlap the circle)
5.
Do same things as step 4 for other 3 times again.
6.
Fold the rectangle in the edge of circle, do same thing to other 3
rectangles.
7.
Use scissors to cut down 3 or more block gines, the length of those need
to be long enough to around the cross section of body,.
8.
Put the nose cone made by 4 rectangles and a circle on the top of body,
make sure it almost seal
9.
Use cut down block gines paste around the surface of rectangle again and
again, then paste cross the surface of circle again and again, to make
sure it more sealed.
10.
Do same things as step 1-9 2 times again.
Fourth, I made 2 of flower nose cones:
1.
Put the body on the paper, and make sure it is up-right.
2.
Draw a circle along the edge of bottom of body.
3.
Find the centre of the circle, then extend it for 6.5cm long(make sure its
vertical to the centre), then do same things for other 3 times again.
5.

Draw two vertical diameter through the centre of the circle, then connect
the end of 6.5cm long line to endpoints of diameter, then do same things
to each 6.5cm long line for other 3 times again.(Now it looks like some
parts of 4 triangles are overlap the circle)
5.
Choose one triangle, draw a oblique line from the edge of half a side,
make sure the acute angle between side and oblique line are 45-60
degrees.
6.
Draw a parallel line as the oblique line I done yet at the point of
intersection of triangle side and circle edge, the length of those two
oblique lines must be same, then connect the end of those two lines.(That
shape looks like a rhomboid)
7.
Do same thing as step 5-6 at other side of triangle, then do same thing for
every triangles at each sides.
8.
Fold every rhomboid and every triangle(from the edge of circle).
9.
Use scissors to cut down 3 or more block gines, the length of those need
to be long enough to around the cone.
10.
Try to put those part together to be a cone, the most important thing is try
to make the rhomboid are more sealed to each others, then use cut down
block gines paste around the cone again and again.
11.
Fold the other half side of triangle outside, to make sure it looks like a
flower.
12.
Make other rectangle nose cone, the step are all same. Put the cone on
the top of rectangle. Use block gines and paste those around the connect
point between rectangle one and this one, to make sure it sealed enough.
13.
Do same things as step 1-12 again.
Fifth, I made 2 triangle nose cone:
1.
Put the body on the paper, and make sure it is up-right.
2.
Draw a circle along the edge of bottom of body.
3.
Find the centre of the circle, then extend it for 6.5cm long(make sure its
vertical to the centre), then do same things for other 3 times again.
4.
Draw two vertical diameter through the centre of the circle, then connect
the end of 6.5cm long line to endpoints of diameter, then do same things
to each 6.5cm long line for other 3 times again.(Now it looks like some
parts of 4 triangles are overlap the circle)
5.
Choose one triangle, draw a oblique line from the edge of side, make sure
the obtuse between side and oblique line are 120-125 degrees.
6.
Draw a parallel line as the oblique line I done yet at the point of
intersection of triangle side and circle edge, the length of those two
oblique lines must be same, then connect the end of those two lines.(That
shape looks like a rhomboid)
7.
Do same thing as step 5-6 at other side of triangle, then do same thing for
every triangles at each sides.
4.

Fold every rhomboid and every triangle(from the edge of circle).

Use scissors to cut down 3 or more block gines, the length of those need
to be long enough to around the cone.
10.
Try to put those part together to be a cone, the most important thing is try
to make the rhomboid are more sealed to each others, then use cut down
block gines paste around the cone again and again.
11.
Make other rectangle nose cone, the step are all same. Put the cone on
the top of rectangle. Use block gines and paste those around the connect
point between rectangle one and this one, to make sure it sealed enough.
12.
Do same things as step 1-11 again.
Finally, LAUNCHED!!!!:
1.
Rocket on launcher.
2.
Pump to 60psi
3.
Open value
4.
Mark where rocket launched.
Data/Observations:
8.
9.

treatments

distance
traveled
in the air
(m)
trlal 1

flower nose cone

trlal 2

trlal 3

average
5

rectangle nose cone

6.25

25.8

16.025

triangle nose cone

33.6

6.76

20.18

To launched my flower nose cone rocket, it not really fill in, so I think if the bottom is on
the yellow line, this rocket might traveled 30m or longer distance.
To launched my rectangle nose cone, the first one also had same problem as flower
one, so I think it might traveled 25m or longer distance, because the second rectangle
nose cone traveled for 25.8m long.
To launched my triangle nose cone, the first one was very successful, but second one
had same problem as flower one, it might traveled 35m or longer.
Analysis:

From all of my data, I get a conclusion that triangle nose cone is the perfect nose cone
when I controlled other data. Besides, because there are some error when I was
launched-the rocket is not really fill in the part of launcher before yellow line, the data for
same shape of nose cone are very different, that might be the most important element
to controlled when doing experiment. In addition, the wind also can be some part of
reason that make data different, we can not control wind during launched, and the wind
can decide how high and how far the rocket can traveled.
Conclusion:
To investigate the data, I find that my alternative hypothesis is true, the triangle
nose cone traveled the farthest. This result tell me that always follow and do something
that already invented and are confirmed, as we all know, the shape of nose cone in real
rocket is triangle. And not surprised, the rectangle one is the most closest, in my
opinion, the reason why is that rocket not only need enough gas and strong thrust to
make is traveled farther, but also need keen-edged nose cone to decrease the influence
from air and others.
If I have another chance to do this experiment again, I think I will put my body in
the launcher first, to make sure it can fill in the part before yellow line and can fly
normally. Also, I will try to control how big the flower open and measure the distance
between each fins.