Rocket Science: Gavin D. J. Harper

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The passage discusses the history and components of rockets, including early uses, key inventors like Goddard, and the function of solid rocket boosters.

Early rockets were propelled by gunpowder, which was invented in China in the 9th century and mentioned in texts like the Huolongjing in the 14th century.

The De Laval nozzle accelerates the hot gases from the burning charge to produce thrust and propel the rocket upwards.

Rocket Science

Gavin D. J. Harper

Forces on a Rocket vs. Aeroplane Spot the difference!

Rockets vs. Aeroplanes

Jet Engine Image Jeff Dahl http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Jet_engine.svg Rocket Engine Image NASA

Gumpowder to propel projectiles, was invented by the Chinese in the ninth century. One of the first texts to mention the use of rockets was the Huolongjing, written by Jiao Yu in the mid 14th Century.
In Europe, the first book on rocketry, was published by the Politsh-Lithuanian Kazimierz Siemienowicz and was entitled Artis Magnae Artilleriae pars prima which translates as The Complete Art of Artillery Here is a picture of a rocket which appeared in this early book!

Robert Goddard, is universally proclaimed as the father of Modern Rocketry. In 1917, the Smithsonian Institution gave him a grant to enable him to research rocketry. He attached a de Laval nozzle to a rocket motor to greatly improve its efficiency.

Rocket Motors:
In this experiment, we will be working with Solid Rocket Boosters This is where the propellant is made from a solid oxidiser and fuel.

When rockets are launched into space, a combination of Solid Rocket Boosters and liquid Hydrogen and Oxygen fuel is often used to provide sufficient thrust.

Rocket Motors:

De Laval Nozzle
The De Laval Nozzle accelerates the hot gases coming from the burning charge to produce the thrust that propels the rocket skywards.

Rocket Motors:

After ignition, the rocket motor generates thrust. The rocket begins to move quickly. Once the thrustgenerating portion of the rocket motor has been burned there is a delay. The rocket coasts and consumes the momentum it has gained during the thrusting phase.

Rocket Motors:

Different portions of The propellant inside the rocket motor fulfil different functions: Thrust: Provides the motion. Delay: Allows the rocket to coast. Recovery Charge: Can be used to deploy a parachute.

Launch Controller Circuit:

A complete circuit ignites the rocket motor.

Insert the igniter into the rocket motor Insert a plastic cap to retain the igniter in place and prevent it from falling out.

CAREFUL: Not to break the fragile igniter! The wire that becomes hot when current is passed through is VERY fragile.

We use a stiff rod to launch our rockets from in order to keep them stable in the very first moments of flight when they are moving slowly.

Make A Chip Cup Rocket:


You Will Need: Polystyrene Chip Cup Rocket Motor Piece of Straw (Launch Lug) 5 Minute Epoxy Glue

1. Decorate chip cup rocket 2. Glue straw launch lug parallel with rocket motor 3. Dip the end of the rocket motor without the hole in epoxy resin glue and push inside the chip cup 4. Insert igniter and prepare to launch!

The Obligatory Book Plug


Found this session interesting?

Find many more interesting rocketry projects in my book:


50 Model Rocket Projects for the Evil Genius

Discount Code:

ISBN-10: 0071469842 By Gavin D. J. Harper

ROYALINSTRAENG
For 5 off the RRP @

www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/

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