| Are you looking for some topics to present that can | | | | 5. Atmospheric studies: how does temperature and |
| add excitement to your science classroom? Rocketry | | | | pressure affect performance? |
| and space exploration, like no other subject, have a | | | | 6. Planetary differences: how does the same rocket |
| way to captivate students that makes it easy for | | | | perform on different planets in our solar system. |
| them to learn science. They are having so much fun, | | | | 7. Dynamics and harmonic motion with damping. |
| that they don't even realize they are learning basic | | | | 8. Engineering - how parts fit together. |
| science concepts. | | | | 9. Newton's Laws of motion. |
| To leverage the benefits of this area of study, you | | | | 10. Artistic expression - because every student can |
| can use your school's computer to explore a lot of | | | | design a different looking rocket, and change colors |
| different science topics. In the January 2005 issue of | | | | of the components to further increase the rocket's |
| the education magazine, "Tech Directions" ( there is | | | | uniqueness. |
| an article by Spencer C. Wilson of J.R. Fugett Middle | | | | 11. Explaining distance, velocity, and acceleration. |
| School in West Chester. In it, he describes how he | | | | 12. Material properties, like density and volume. |
| uses a rocket design software, called RockSim ( to | | | | 13. The importance of weight and balance (CG |
| show students the process of engineering design. | | | | position) when designing rockets. |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | 14. Explaining that Work = Force X Distance. |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and professional | | | | 15. Explaining the concepts of Kinetic and Potential |
| "full service" Search Engine Marketing help at very | | | | Energy. |
| affordable rates. | | | | 16. Showing free-fall, and terminal velocity. |
| In this article, I'd like to give you some other ideas on | | | | 17. The importance of units and unit conversion. |
| how to use the model rocket design software to | | | | 18. The importance of following directions. |
| demonstrate other basic science concepts. Here are | | | | 19. Exporting data and using spreadsheet programs |
| some benefits to using RockSim software: | | | | to perform data reduction and manipulation |
| 1. Allows the student to simulate hundreds of rocket | | | | 20. To show why multi-stage and cluster motor |
| flights very quickly -- this saves lots of money! Just | | | | rockets are used in real rockets. |
| think of the time saved too. You don't have to | | | | 21. Concept of stored chemical energy (in the rocket |
| spend hundreds of dollar buying motors and | | | | propellant) and how it is converted to mechanical |
| hours-and-hours of time building different | | | | energy. |
| configurations, launching, recovering, and repacking | | | | 22. Concept of efficiency - getting the most |
| rockets to test one control feature. | | | | performance from the least exertion of energy. Can |
| 2. Safety. When you go out to fly rockets, knowing | | | | be explained by the different types of propellant |
| how they'll behave is an important aspect of safety. | | | | formulations. |
| Precautions can be made. By running the simulations, | | | | 23. Showing the concept of momentum and how it |
| the students learn what concepts contribute to | | | | affects the optimum mass of the rocket. |
| keeping the actual launch safe. | | | | 24. Finding the optimal launch angle for breezy |
| 3. The scientific value is awesome. Each launch | | | | conditions. |
| simulation generates a mountain of useful data. | | | | 25. Optimal launch angle for distance (ballistic curves), |
| Analyzing this data is a fantastic way to teach the | | | | and how it varies with the thrust curve of the motor. |
| scientific method. | | | | 26. Show how the distribution of mass affects the |
| 4. Students love software because it is fun! It has | | | | dynamic stability of the rocket. |
| features like a video game, so the students may not | | | | 27. Demonstrating the concept of "Numeric Precision" |
| realize how much they are learning at the same time. | | | | -- the more iterations performed, the better the |
| 5. The RockSim software is the same tool that is | | | | accuracy. |
| used by real rocketry professionals - like NASA, | | | | 28. Show how different shaped components affects |
| military contractors, and universities. So you can feel | | | | the static stability of the rocket. |
| confident in the results you get back from the | | | | 29. Compare the thrust curves of different motors. |
| program. | | | | This can show how different geometries (hole size, |
| 6. The software allows students to explore their | | | | location, dimensions) affect the thrust produced by |
| creativity. They can design vastly different looking | | | | the rocket. |
| models, while learning engineering skills, assembly | | | | 30. Concept of "Impulse:" which is a thrust force |
| steps, and physics. | | | | multiplied by the time duration that thrust is created. |
| Here are just some of the many topics you can | | | | The higher the impulse, the more power the motor |
| explore with RockSim: | | | | has. |
| 1. Aerodynamics and drag reduction. | | | | As you can see, the RockSim software is a versatile |
| 2. Forces of flight: Lift, Drag, Thrust, and Gravity. | | | | tool. You'll save hundreds of dollars because it can be |
| 3. Projectile motion. | | | | used in a variety of ways. |
| 4. Rocket propulsion as used for space travel. | | | | |