RocketsRockets

Applied Applied ScienceScience

Fall 08Fall 08

Mrs. DickersonMrs. Dickerson

Flight TermsFlight Terms

LaunchLaunch: : – Time that the rocket is traveling up the launch rod. The Time that the rocket is traveling up the launch rod. The

engine ramps up to full thrust, briefly exceeding the engine ramps up to full thrust, briefly exceeding the average thrust in order to get the rocket up to speed average thrust in order to get the rocket up to speed

(about 30 mph) before it reaches the end of the launch rod.(about 30 mph) before it reaches the end of the launch rod. Powered AscentPowered Ascent: :

– Flight time after the rocket has left the launch rod, Flight time after the rocket has left the launch rod, while the engine is still burning. while the engine is still burning.

Coasting FlightCoasting Flight: : – The flight time of the rocket after the motor has The flight time of the rocket after the motor has

burned out. During this time the rocket remains a burned out. During this time the rocket remains a "free body" with two forces acting on it: gravity and "free body" with two forces acting on it: gravity and wind resistance. wind resistance.

Flight TermsFlight Terms

Ejection ChargeEjection Charge: :

– When this delay time is up, the ejection charge When this delay time is up, the ejection charge fires, forcing the nose off the end of the rocket and fires, forcing the nose off the end of the rocket and pushing the parachute (or other recovery device) pushing the parachute (or other recovery device)

out.out. RecoveryRecovery: :

– With the parachute deployed, the rocket is With the parachute deployed, the rocket is returned gently to the ground so it can be returned gently to the ground so it can be recovered intact and flown again. recovered intact and flown again.

ApogeeApogee– The highest or most distant point.The highest or most distant point.

ForcesForces

Thrust Thrust – Force which moves the rocket through the air, and Force which moves the rocket through the air, and

through space.through space. DragDrag

– Force which is opposed to the direction of motion, and Force which is opposed to the direction of motion, and the lift force which acts perpendicular to the direction of the lift force which acts perpendicular to the direction of motion. motion.

Lift Lift – The force that the engine is giving the rocket.The force that the engine is giving the rocket.– Depends on the density of the air and the air's viscosity Depends on the density of the air and the air's viscosity

and compression.and compression. WeightWeight

– Is the force generated by the gravitational attraction on Is the force generated by the gravitational attraction on the rocket.the rocket.

Engines / MotorsEngines / Motors

C6- 4C6- 4

Total Impulse(Thrust x Time)

Average Thrust

Delay Time

Thrust is in Newtons

Finding Height Finding Height

767600

150150

Use the Tangent Function to find the heightUse the Tangent Function to find the height

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