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Rocketry, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Impulse and Momentum

An 11th grade STEM lesson

Sylvestre Amorsolo

04 June 2024

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Notes for teachers

This project takes place in a classroom and in an open field. This takes approximately 5 days to complete - 1 ½ day for building the rocket, 1 day for launching, and about 1 ½ day to complete the activity sheet. Students work individually or at most in pairs.
Students have already filled up a cause-mechanism-effect worksheet in prior lessons.
Students have a good grasp of the concept of center of mass.

List of Materials

Estes Alpha Rocket kit
Wood glue
Scissors
Exacto knives
Sandpaper
A8 Engine
Altimeter
Lab Paper

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Standards

Essential HS.P3U1.6

Collect, analyze, and interpret data regarding the change in motion of an object or system in one dimension, to construct an explanation using Newton’s Laws.

Essential HS.P3U2.7

Use mathematics and computational thinking to explain how Newton’s laws are used in engineering and technologies to create products to serve human ends.

Science and Engineering Practices

ask questions and define problems
develop and use models
plan and carry out investigations
analyze and interpret data
use mathematical and computational thinking
construct explanations and design solutions
engage in argument from evidence
obtain, evaluate and communicate information

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Objectives:

Today we will build a rocket, and will describe and analyze its motion using Newton’s Laws, Impulse-Momentum Theorem, and some kinematics equations.

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Agenda (300 minutes)

Day 1 and 2:

Rocket Building

Day 3:

Rocket Launching and Iterations, Data gathering

Day 4 and 5:

Data analysis and answering of activity sheet

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

How exactly does a rocket shoot up into the sky?

HYPOTHESIZE: Fill up the cause-mechanism-effect worksheet.

Note: This will be edited/annotated/modified later.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Sample Student Work

Build the rocket. Use the manual or watch these videos to guide you build it.

The teacher has a sample finish product which you can also base your work on.
Weigh the finish rocket in kilograms.
Attach the altimeter to your rocket such that it does not throw off its center of mass.
Launch your rocket!
Remember to take a slo-mo video of its launch.
After launch, record the approximate time the rocket reached maximum height.

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Assessment:

See WORKSHEET, the assessment can be the question below that is the last question on the worksheet. Students can re-address their hypothesis from the beginning in order to draw a conclusion.

Considering your answers to all the questions above, revise the cause-mechanism-effect worksheet that was previously filled out.

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Differentiation

A refresher on kinematics terms like velocity, change in velocity, and acceleration can be given to some students.

A review of kinematics equations can also be beneficial.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

A. How would not sanding the fins of the rocket affect its motion? Explain.

B. Why is it important that the altimeter is attached to the rocket such that it does not throw off its center of mass?

C. Calculate how high your rocket reach? It might be helpful to view the slo-mo video and use the time it took to reach maximum height.

Compare this calculated value to the altitude given by the altimeter.

How do the values compare? What factors could have caused the difference?

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