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Ans. Our Rocket was in the air for average of 2.5 seconds.
2. Estimate your rocket's maximum height. Show and explain all calculations.
Ans. Firstly, we thought that the time between when the rocket comes down to the same height
as the launching height and to the ground is very little, so we cut that part off, assuming the projectile is
launched and landed at the same height (only in this case). We divided the time into half, because we
only need the height when the rocket is launched from the launcher to the highest point. Also, we
combined two equations by plugging one into other one. Also, we assumed that the rocket has constant
t = 1.25 s, vy = 0
sy = vyt - (0.5)gt2
sy = - (0.5)(9.8)(1.25)2
sy = 7.66 m
Total height (launcher + launched height) = 0.75 + 7.66 = 8.41 m from the ground.
3. What was your rocket's maximum velocity? Show and explain all calculations.
Ans. In this case, as we estimate that the height of the launcher to be 0.75m, we find the total by
using the same formula, but the time is the normal time, 2.5 seconds, and the height is the height from
sy = vyt - (0.5)gt2
vy = 12.55 m/s
2. What role did friction play in the performance of your rocket? Did it aid or hinder?
Ans. As the rocket flew straight up into the air, there was a friction between the rocket surface and the
air. This friction is called air resistance, and it hindered the performance of our rocket. Therefore, our
rocket got dragged down to the ground very fast as the rocket turned and made more surface contact the
air.
3. Beginning with the stored mechanical energy in the pressurized rocket, explain the multiple
Ans. There are many energy transformations throughout the experiment. At first, when we pump the
pressure, we create mechanic energy in order to fill the pressure for our rocket. Then, as the pressure
travels to the rocket, the pressure within become stored mechanical energy. Later, as the rocket
launches, kinetic energy drives the rocket to fly up the sky. It then converts into Gravitational Potential
energy as it reaches the highest point and again become kinetic energy as it descends.
4. How did undertaking this project improve your understanding of work and energy?
Ans. When the rocket is launched to the highest point, the kinetic energy of the rocket is at minimum and
the gravitational potential energy of the rocket is at maximum. Just before the rocket hits the ground, the
kinetic energy of the rocket is at maximum and the gravitational potential energy of the rocket is at
minimum.
5. How did you feel about this project when it was first assigned?
Ans. The first time we have heard about this project, we were kind of surprised and interested. Some of
us had built a bottle rocket before but that was a few years ago. We have learned more about forces,
work, and energy. So we thought that we would be able to create a better rocket by applying the
6. How do you feel about this project now that it has concluded?
Ans. We are kind of disappointed from the result when we compare it to the other teams but we still had
a lot of fun building it. We tried fixing it while we were taking the total of 4 trials by putting in clay to
increase the weight of the rocket so that it can resist the air resistance. However, it didn’t change the
7. What would you have done differently as you and your team worked through this project?
Ans. If we were to work through this project again, we would definitely change our design of the rocket. It
was clear that our design for the rocket was not suitable for it to go straight up. The head of the rocket
turned everytime we launched it. The length of the rocket was too long so the head of the rocket was far
from the center of gravity. The fins were sharp and they were attached at the middle of the rocket. We
didn’t put in a nose cone. Also, as we thought that a heavy rocket wouldn’t be able to fly very high, we
intended to make a very light rocket. Therefore, when the air hit the head of the rocket, it was easily
turned. To improve our design, we would decrease the length of our rocket, make the fins rounder and
move them down to the bottom, add a nose cone in the head, and put in a bit more mass. If we modify
our rocket according to this, it will be able to resist more air resistance and fly higher than it did this time.
Analysis
As mentioned in the above answers, our rocket flew but it failed to meet our expectation. First, we
made the rocket too long, and when we attached the clay on the top of the rocket, it is too far from the
center of gravity. When it is too far from the center of gravity and the rocket tilts a little, the rocket will spin
a lot after. Second, we didn’t add a nose cone, which would play an important role in preventing air
resistance. Third, our fins were sharp and they were attached at the middle of the rocket. They didn’t work
very well in resisting air resistance. A better way would be to make our fins rounder and put them at the
bottom of the rocket. We would have to consider more factors that would impact the performance of the