Rocket Fun Objective: Learn how to make safe, simple non-fuel type rockets (paper, pencil, water rockets) to incorporate in your den or pack program.

On-line Resources: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/teachers/rockets http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/bgmr.html http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/solar.html http://www.water-rockets.com/javasim/index.html http://mpassero.tripod.com/rocket/index.htm Rocket Pop! Launch Pad: http://waterrocketpop.com/

Class Outline I. Introduction (5')

Distribute Handouts Sign-in Sheet Brief history of Rockets

II. Rocket Principles (3') Newton's 3 Laws of Motion Rocket Pinwheel

III. Incorporating into Den or Pack Program (5') Wolf, Bear, Webelos Achievements Space Theme Rocket Derby Rocket Derby Patches

IV. Rocket Safety (2') V. Types of Rockets & Construction Tips (20')

A. Paper Rockets B. Pencil Rockets C. Air & Foam Rockets D. Alka-Seltzer Rockets

Basic Film Canister Canister with Fins & Nosecone Double canister

E. Water Rockets Basic Water bottle Water bottle with fins & nosecone

F. Estes Rockets G. Launch Pads

VI. Rocket Construction (15') Form in groups of 5 people each Each group will build soda bottle rocket

VII. Rocket Launch. (10') Brief History of Rockets Today's rockets are remarkable collections of human ingenuity that have their roots in the science and technology of the past. They are natural outgrowths of literally thousands of years of experimentation and research on rockets and rocket propulsion.

One of the first devices to successfully employ the principles essential to rocket flight was a wooden bird. The writings of Aulus Gellius, a Roman, tell a story of a Greek named Archytas who lived in the city of Tarentum, now a part of southern Italy. Somewhere around the year 400 B.C., Archytas mystified and amused the citizens of Tarentum by flying a pigeon made of wood. Escaping steam propelled the bird suspended on wires. The pigeon used the action-reaction principle, which was not stated as a scientific law until the 17th century. About three hundred years after the pigeon, another Greek, Hero of Alexandria, invented a similar rocket-like device called an aeolipile. It, too, used steam as a propulsive gas. Hero mounted a sphere on top of a water kettle. A fire below the kettle turned the water into steam, and the gas traveled through pipes to the sphere. Two L-shaped tubes on opposite sides of the sphere allowed the gas to escape, and in doing so gave a thrust to the sphere that caused it to rotate. Just when the first true rockets appeared is unclear. Stories of early rocket like devices appear sporadically through the historical records of various cultures. Perhaps the first true rockets were accidents. In the first century A.D., the Chinese reportedly had a simple form of gunpowder made from saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal dust. To create explosions during religious festivals, they filled bamboo tubes with a mixture and tossed them into fires. Perhaps some of those tubes failed to explode and instead skittered out of the fires, propelled by the gases and sparks produced by the burning gunpowder.

The Chinese began experimenting with the gunpowder-filled tubes. At some point, they attached bamboo tubes to arrows and launched them with bows. Soon they discovered that these gunpowder tubes could launch themselves just by the power produced from the escaping gas. The true rocket was born.

The date reporting the first use of true rockets was in 1232. At this time, the Chinese and the Mongols were at war with each other. During the battle of Kai-Keng, the Chinese repelled the Mongol invaders by a barrage of "arrows of flying fire." These fire-arrows were a simple form of a solid-propellant rocket. A tube, capped at one end, contained gunpowder. The other end was left open and the tube was attached to a long stick. When the powder was ignited, the rapid burning of the powder produced fire, smoke, and gas that escaped out the open end and produced a thrust. The stick acted as a simple guidance system that kept the rocket headed in one general direction as it flew through the air. It is not clear how effective these arrows of flying fire were as weapons of destruction, but their psychological effects on the Mongols must have been formidable.

Following the battle of Kai-Keng, the Mongols produced rockets of their own and may have been responsible for the spread of rockets to Europe. All through the 13th to the 15th centuries there were reports of many rocket experiments. In England, a monk named Roger Bacon worked on improved forms of gunpowder that greatly increased the range of rockets. In France, Jean Froissart found that more accurate flights could be achieved by launching rockets through tubes. Froissart's idea was the forerunner of the modern

bazooka. Joanes de Fontana of Italy designed a surface-running rocket-powered torpedo for setting enemy ships on fire. By the 16th century rockets fell into a time of disuse as weapons of war, though they were still used for fireworks displays, and a German fireworks maker, Johann Schmidlap, invented the "step rocket," a multi-staged vehicle for lifting fireworks to higher altitudes. A large sky rocket (first stage) carried a smaller sky rocket (second stage). When the large rocket burned out, the smaller one continued to a higher altitude before showering the sky with glowing cinders. Schmidlap's idea is basic to all rockets today that go into outer space. Nearly all uses of rockets up to this time were for warfare or fireworks, but there is an interesting old Chinese legend that reported the use of rockets as a means of transportation. With the help of many assistants, a lesser-known Chinese official named Wan-Hu assembled a rocket- powered flying chair. Attached to the chair were two large kites, and fixed to the kites were forty- seven fire-arrow rockets. On the day of the flight, Wan-Hu sat himself on the chair and gave the command to light the rockets. Forty-seven rocket assistants, each armed with torches, rushed forward to light the

fuses. In a moment, there was a tremendous roar accompanied by billowing clouds of smoke. When the smoke cleared, Wan-Hu and his flying chair were gone. No one knows for sure what happened to Wan-Hu, but it is probable that if the event really did take place, Wan-Hu and his chair were blown to pieces. Fire-arrows were as apt to explode as to fly. Rocketry Becomes a Science During the latter part of the 17th century, the scientific foundations for modern rocketry were laid by the great English scientist Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Newton organized his understanding of physical motion into three scientific laws. The laws explain how rockets work and why they are able to work in the vacuum of outer space. Newton's laws soon began to have a practical impact on the design of rockets. About 1720, a Dutch professor, Willem Gravesande, built model cars propelled by jets of steam. Rocket experimenters in Germany and Russia began working with rockets with a mass of more than 45 kilograms. Some of these rockets were so powerful that their escaping exhaust flames bored deep holes in the ground even before lift-off. During the end of the 18th century and early into the 19th, rockets experienced a brief revival as a weapon of war. The success of Indian rocket barrages against the British in 1792 and again in 1799 caught the interest of an artillery expert, Colonel William Congreve. Congreve set out to design rockets for use by the British military. The Congreve rockets were highly successful in battle. Used by British ships to pound Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, they inspired Francis Scott Key to write "the rockets' red glare," words in his poem that later became The Star- Spangled Banner. Even with Congreve's work, the accuracy of rockets still had not improved much from the early days. The devastating nature of war rockets was not their accuracy or power, but their numbers. During a typical siege, thousands of them might be fired at the enemy. All over the world, rocket researchers experimented with ways to improve accuracy. An Englishman, William Hale, developed a technique called spin stabilization. In this method, the escaping exhaust gases struck small vanes at the bottom of the rocket, causing it to spin much as a bullet does in flight. Variations of the principle are still used today. Rockets continued to be used with success in battles all over the European continent. However, in a war with Prussia, the Austrian rocket brigades met their match against newly designed artillery pieces. Breech-loading cannon with rifled barrels and exploding warheads were far more effective weapons of war than the best rockets. Once again, rockets were relegated to peacetime uses.

Modern Rocketry Begins In 1898, a Russian schoolteacher, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935), proposed the idea of space exploration by rocket. In a report he published in 1903, Tsiolkovsky suggested the use of liquid propellants for rockets in order to achieve greater range. Tsiolkovsky stated that the speed and range of a rocket were limited only by the exhaust velocity of escaping gases. For his ideas, careful research, and great vision, Tsiolkovsky has been called the father of modern astronautics. Early in the 20th century, an American, Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945), conducted practical experiments in rocketry. He had become interested in a way of achieving higher altitudes than were possible for lighter-than-air balloons. He published a pamphlet in 1919 entitled A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes. It was a mathematical analysis of what is today called the meteorological sounding rocket. Goddard's earliest experiments were with solid-propellant rockets. In 1915, he began to try various types of solid fuels and to measure the exhaust velocities of the burning gases. While working on solid-propellant rockets, Goddard became convinced that a rocket could be propelled better by liquid fuel. No one had ever built a successful

liquid-propellant rocket before. It was a much more difficult task than building solid- propellant rockets. Fuel and oxygen tanks, turbines, and combustion chambers would be needed. In spite of the difficulties, Goddard achieved the first successful flight with a liquid- propellant rocket on March 16, 1926. Fueled by liquid oxygen and gasoline, the rocket flew for only two and a half seconds, climbed 12.5 meters, and landed 56 meters away in a cabbage patch. By today's standards, the flight was unimpressive, but like the first powered airplane flight by the Wright brothers in 1903, Goddard's gasoline rocket was the forerunner of a whole new era in rocket flight. Goddard's experiments in liquid-propellant rockets continued for many years. His rockets became bigger and flew higher. He developed a gyroscope system for flight control and a payload compartment for scientific instruments. Parachute recovery systems were employed to return rockets and instruments safely. Goddard, for his achievements, has been called the father of modern rocketry.

A third great space pioneer, Hermann Oberth (1894-1989) born on June 25, 1894 in Hermannstadt (Transylvania), and died on December 28, 1989 in Nuremberg, Germany, published a book in 1923 about rocket travel into outer space. His writings were important. Because of them, many small rocket societies sprang up around the world. In Germany, the formation of one such society, the Verein fur Raumschiffahrt (Society for Space Travel), led to the development of the V-2 rocket, which was used against London during World War II. In 1937, German engineers and scientists, including Oberth, assembled in Peenemunde on the shores of the Baltic Sea. There the most advanced rocket of its time would be built and flown under the directorship of Wernher von Braun. The V-2 rocket (in Germany called the A-4) was small by comparison to today's rockets. It achieved its great thrust by burning a mixture of liquid oxygen and alcohol at a rate of about one ton every seven seconds. Once launched, the V-2 was a formidable weapon that could devastate whole city blocks. Fortunately for London and the Allied forces, the V-2 came too late in the war to change its outcome. Nevertheless, by war's end, German rocket scientists and engineers had already laid plans for advanced missiles capable of spanning the Atlantic Ocean and landing in the United States. These missiles would have had winged upper stages but very small payload capacities. With the fall of Germany, many unused V-2 rockets and components were captured by the Allies. Many German rocket scientists came to the United States. Others went to the Soviet Union. The German scientists, including Wernher von Braun, were amazed at the progress Goddard had made. Both the United States and the Soviet Union realized the potential of rocketry as a military weapon and began a variety of experimental programs. At first, the United States began a program with high-altitude atmospheric sounding rockets, one of Goddard's early ideas. Later, a variety of medium- and long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles were developed. These became the starting point of the U.S. space program. Missiles such as the Redstone, Atlas, and Titan would eventually launch astronauts into space. On October 4, 1957, the world was stunned by the news of an Earth-orbiting artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union. Called Sputnik I, the satellite was the first successful entry in a race for space between the two superpower nations. Less than a month later, the Soviets followed with the launch of a satellite carrying a dog named Laika on board. Laika survived in space for seven days before being put to sleep before the oxygen supply ran out. A few months after the first Sputnik, the United States followed the Soviet Union with a satellite of its own. Explorer I was launched by the U.S. Army on January 31, 1958. In October of that year, the United States formally organized its space program by creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA became a civilian agency with the goal of peaceful exploration of space for the benefit of all humankind. Soon, many people and machines were being launched into space. Astronauts orbited Earth and landed on the Moon. Robot spacecraft traveled to the planets. Space was suddenly opened up to exploration and commercial exploitation. Satellites enabled scientists to investigate our world, forecast the weather, and to communicate instantaneously around the globe. As the demand for more and larger payloads increased, a wide array of powerful and versatile rockets had to be built. Since the earliest days of discovery and experimentation, rockets have evolved from simple gunpowder devices into giant vehicles capable of traveling into outer space. Rockets have opened the universe to direct exploration by humankind. Den & Pack Activities with Rockets Den Activities: Wolf Elective 5g: Make a model rocket. Bear Achievement 21f: Make a model of a rocket.

Elective 1d: Build a model of a rocket or space satellite. Webelos Scientist 5: Show the effects of air pressure. 6: Show the effects of water & air pressure. 7: Build and launch a model rocket. Pack Activities: Space Theme Scout-O-Ramas Space Derby or Rocket Derby Camporees Pack picnic or barbecue Rocket Activities:

Can be used in the den, the Pack or classroom.

Can be incorporated in the Webelos Scientist badge.

Can illustrate the effects of air pressure and water pressure

Can be used to teach the scientific method. Experiment with different amounts of water and chart the launch times vs. water level. Experiment with different fin designs and see which ones give the best flight.

Foster creativity and exploration. Give materials to the boys without any directions, and have them put together a rocket they think will fly the highest. Explore options for recovery systems such as parachutes.

Rocket Safety Tips Construction Safety Precautions:

Always use glue in a well-ventilated area.

Cover the work area with paper or a cloth in case glue drips. Pressure Testing Water Rockets:

Never use glass bottles for water rockets.

Always fill rocket completely with water when pressure testing. This will reduce the explosive hazard of the compressed air.

Pressurize slowly, and if possible open the air pressure valve so that the air bubbles slowly into the rocket. Then back away and wait for the pressure to stabilize in the rocket with no more bubble action.

Soda Bottles are pressure tested but water bottles are not! Don't use water bottles for pressurized rockets.

We does not recommend pressurizing above 100 psi for safety reasons. Some people have tested burst pressures using other launch pads. This note is from an expert in pressure testing soda bottles:

I was reading a piece on a trade site for carbonated beverage bottles that said the industry has settled on a standard of two times the fill pressure for carbonated beverages (60 psi), so 120 psi would appear to be the current minimum acceptable burst pressure for the industry.

Launch Safety Precautions:

Never launch a rocket over 400ft without FAA clearance.

Never launch in a crowded area.

Choose an open field that is clear of obstructions such as trees and wires.

Never stand directly over the launch pad while setting rocket on pad or during launch.

Have each student or student group set up their own rocket on the launch pad. Other students should stand back several meters. It will be easier to keep observers away by roping off the launch site.

Only permit the students launching the rocket to retrieve it.

The student pressurizing the rocket should put on eye protection (safety goggles).

Launch under low pressure first.

Launch under zero or gentle breeze conditions.

Place the launcher in the center of the field and anchor it in place with the spikes or tent stakes.

When pressurization is complete, all students should stand in back of the rope for the countdown. Launch the rocket when the recovery range is clear.

Rocket Principles Newton's First Law This law of motion is just an obvious statement of fact.

Newton's Second Law This law of motion is essentially a statement of a mathematical equation. The three parts of the equation are mass (m), acceleration (a), and force (f).

Newton's Third Law

Putting Newton's Laws of Motion Together An unbalanced force must be exerted for a rocket to lift off from a launch pad or for a craft in space to change speed or direction (First Law). The amount of thrust (force) produced by a rocket engine will be determined by the rate at which the mass of the rocket fuel burns and the speed of the gas escaping the rocket (Second Law). The reaction, or motion, of the rocket is equal to and in the opposite direction of the action, or thrust, from the engine (Third Law).

Rocket Pinwheel TOPIC: Action-Reaction Principle DESCRIPTION: Construct a balloon- powered pinwheel. MATERIALS: Wooden pencil with an eraser on one end Sewing pin Round party balloon Flexible soda straw Plastic tape METHOD:

1. Inflate the balloon to stretch it out a bit. 2. Slip the nozzle end of the balloon over the end of the straw farthest away from the bend. Use a short piece of plastic tape to

seal the balloon to the straw. The balloon should inflate when you blow through the straw. 3. Bend the opposite end of the straw at a right angle. 4. Lay the straw and balloon on an outstretched finger so that it balances and mark the balance point. Push the pin through the

straw at the balance point and then continue pushing the pin into the eraser of the pencil and finally into the wood itself. 5. Spin the straw a few times to loosen up the hole the pin has made. 6. Blow in the straw to inflate the balloon and then let go of the straw.

DISCUSSION: The balloon-powered pinwheel spins because of the action-reaction principle described in Newton's Third Law of Motion. Stated simply, the law says every action is, accompanied by an opposite and equal reaction. In this case, the balloon produces an action by squeezing on the air inside causing it to rush out the straw. The air, traveling around the bend in the straw, imparts a reaction force at a right angle to the straw. The result is that the balloon and straw spins around the pin.

Paper Rocket TOPIC: Stability DESCRIPTION: Small flying rockets to make out of paper and propel with air blown through a straw. MATERIALS: Scrap bond paper Cellophane tape Scissors Sharpened fat pencil Milkshake straw (slightly thinner than pencil) PROCEDURE:

1. Cut a narrow rectangular strip of paper about 5 inches long and roll it tightly around the fat pencil. Tape the cylinder and remove it from the pencil.

2. Cut crown points into one end of the cylinder and slip it back onto the pencil. 3. Slide the crown points to the pencil tip and squeeze the points together and tape them together to seal the end to form a

nose cone (the pencil point provides support for taping). An alternative to the crown points is to just fold over one end of the tube and seal it with tape.

4. Remove the cylinder from the pencil and gently blow into the open end to check for leaks. If air easily escapes, use more tape to seal the leaks.

5. Cut out two sets of fins using the pattern and fold according to instructions. Tape the fins near the open end of the cylinder. The tabs make taping easy.

FLYING THE PAPER ROCKET: Slip the straw into the rocket's opening. Point the rocket towards a safe direction, sharply blow through the straw. The rocket will shoot away. Be careful not to aim the rocket towards anyone because the rocket could poke an eye. DISCUSSION: Paper rockets demonstrate how rockets fly through the atmosphere and the importance of having fins for control. For experimental purposes, try building a rocket with no fins and one with the fins in the front to see how they will fly. Practice flying the rockets on a ballistic trajectory towards a target. Also try making a rocket with wings so that it will glide.

Pencil Rocket TOPIC: Rockets DESCRIPTION: Rockets, using pencils for their bodies, are launched with a rubber band-powered launch platform. MATERIALS and TOOLS:

2 Pieces of wood 3'X4"Xl" in size 2 Cup hooks 1 Wooden spring clothes pin 1 Small wood screw 1 Screw eye 2 Metal angle irons and screws 4 Feet of heavy string Iron bailing wire (18 gauge minimum) Several rubber bands

Several wooden pencils (unsharpened) Several pencil cap erasers Cellophane or masking tap Heavy paper Saw Wood file Drill (3/16 inch diameter) Pliers

PROCEDURE Rocket

1. Take a short piece of bailing wire and wrap it around the eraser end of the pencil about one inch from the end. Use pliers to twist the wire tightly so that it "bites" into the wood a bit. Next, bend the twisted ends into a hook as shown in figure 3.

2. Take a sharp knife and cut a notch in the other end of the pencil as shown in figure 3. 3. Cut out small paper rocket fins and tape them to the pencil just above the notch. 4. Place an eraser cap over the upper end of the rocket. This blunts the nose to make the rocket safer if it hits something. 5. The rocket is now complete.

Launch Platform

1. Join the two pieces of wood as shown in the diagram to form the launch platform. Use a metal angle iron on each side to strengthen the structure.

2. Screw in the cup hooks and screw eye into the wood in the places indicated in figure 1. 3. Temporarily separate the wooden pieces of the clothes pin and file the "jaw" of one

piece square as shown in figure 2. Drill two holes through the other wood piece as shown. Drill one hole through the first wood piece as shown.

4. Drill a hole through the upright piece of the launch platform as shown and screw the clothes pin to it so that the lower hole in the pin lines up with the hole in the upright. Reassemble the clothes pin.

5. Tie a knot in one end of the string and feed it through the clothes pin as shown in figure 1, through the upright piece of the platform and then through the screw eye. When the free end of the string is pulled, the clothes pin will pen. The clothes pin has become a rocket hold-down and release device.

6. Loop four rubber bands together and loop their ends on the cup hooks. The launch platform is now complete.

LAUNCHING PENCIL ROCKETS:

1. Choose a wide-open outdoor area to launch the rockets. 2. Spread open the jaw of the clothes pin and place the notched end of the rocket in the jaws. Close

the jaws and gently pull the pencil upward to insure the rocket is secure. If the rocket doesn't fit, change the shape of the notch slightly.

3. Pull the rubber bands down and loop them over the wire hook. Be sure not to look down over the rocket as you do this in case the rocket is prematurely released.

4. Stand at the other end of the launcher and step on the wood to provide additional support. 5. Make sure no one except yourself is standing next to the launch pad. Count down from 10 and pull

the string. Step out of the way from the rocket as, it flies about 75 feet up in the air, gracefully turns upside down and returns to Earth.

6. The rocket's terminal altitude can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the tension on the rubber bands.

DISCUSSION: Like the flight of Robert Goddard's first liquid fuel rocket in 1926, the pencil rocket gets its upward thrust from its nose end rather than its tail. Regardless, the rocket's fins still provide stability, guiding the rocket upward for a smooth flight. If a steady wind is blowing during flight, the fins will steer the rocket towards the wind in a process called 'weather cocking.' On NASA rockets, active controls steer during flight to prevent weather cocking and to aim them on the right trajectory. Active controls include tilting nozzles and various forms of fins and vanes.

Alka-Seltzer Rockets Purpose To design a paper rocket propelled by Alka-Seltzer and water to demonstrate Newton's third law of motion. Background The paper rocket in this activity is propelled according to the principle stated in Isaac Newton's third law of motion: "For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction." Gas pressure builds inside the film canister due to the mixing of Alka-Seltzer and water. This action continues until enough pressure builds to blow apart the canister from its lid. The reaction is the launch of the rocket. Materialscard stock printed pattern; empty film canister with lid that snaps inside; markers, crayons, or colored pencils; tape; glue; scissors;

Alka-Seltzer tablets; water; metric tape measure or meter sticks; straw; (Optional launch pad: wood block, coat hanger or other stiff wire)

Preparation Review and prepare materials. It is most important to use film canisters with lids that snap inside. Do not use lids that close around the outside of the canister. Construction Cut the fins out. Cut the nose cone and body out as one piece. Tape the body onto the film canister, roll the paper around the side, and tape the end down. The lid end of the film canister goes down.

Roll the nose cone around in the shape of a cone and tape it together. Straighten the nose cone point to the center of the rocket and tape it to the sides.

Fold the fins so that the colored side is out. Tape or glue the fin halves together to form a complete circle.

Fold the fins so that the colored side is out. Tape or glue the fin halves together to form a complete circle.

Cut a 1-inch piece of straw and tape it to the body. Launch Time This is an outdoor activity. If gusty winds are a problem, then place a quarter in the canister to keep the rocket from falling over. Launching near a wall where a metric tape has been hung or where meter sticks have been stacked may make it easier to judge how high the rocket goes. You may want to wear safety glasses during this experiment as a general safety precaution. Everyone should stand away from loaded rockets when they are on the launch pad. It may take 15 to 20 seconds to build up enough pressure to launch, so a loaded rocket should not be approached prematurely. These rockets can shoot 5 meters or more into the air. No sharp objects should be placed on top of the nose cone or elsewhere on the rocket. Make a launch pad with a block of wood and a straight piece of wire. Drill a hole for the wire and insert the wire straight up to guide the rocket at lift off. Wrap-up

1. One way to record the results of different "fuel" mixtures is to make a simple graph of height vs. amount of water. Such a graph gives a clear, visual record of the observations and can be used as evidence to support interpretations.

2. Design and launch other rockets powered by two, three or more film canisters. 3. Design a two-stage rocket.

Soda Bottle Rockets Materials 2 soda bottles; card stock printed pattern; markers, crayons, or colored pencils; tape; glue; scissors; water; wood block approximately 4" long piece of "2 by 4" lumber; one wood screw; one rubber automotive valve stem; bicycle tire pump. Preparation Review and prepare materials. Build the launch pad by cutting 2 1/2" off the cap end of the bottle. Cut a 3/8" slot down one side of the bottle for the tire pump hose. Drill or punch a hole in the bottom of the bottle. Screw the bottle to the block of wood. Construction

1. Print the patterns. Cut the fins out. Cut the nose cone out. 2. Roll and tape the nose cone. Tape the nose cone to the bottom of the whole soda bottle. 3. Fold the fins at all the dotted lines. Glue or tape two of the fins together. Wrap the fins

around the middle of the whole soda bottle and glue or tape the last fin together. Launch Time

1. This is an outdoor activity. If gusty winds are a problem, then abort the launch. Everyone should stand away from rockets when they are on the launch pad. These rockets can shoot 100 feet or more into the air. No sharp objects should be placed on top of the nose cone or elsewhere on the rocket.

2. Fill the soda bottle a little less than half way with water. Shove the large end of the tire valve stem into the neck of the bottle. Attach the bicycle pump hose to the valve stem. Lower the bottle into the launch pad so that the hose slides down into the slot, the valve stem points down and the bottle rests on top of the cut bottle.

3. Pump up the bottle until it pops off the valve stem and flies to new heights. Wrap-up One way to record the results of different "fuel" mixtures is to make a simple graph of height vs. amount of water. Such a graph gives a clear, visual record of the observations and can be used as evidence to support interpretations. Design and launch other rockets. Design a two-stage rocket. Design recovery mechanisms such as parachute, ribbon or propeller.

Soda Bottle Launch Pad 1. You can use a bicycle pump, soda bottle, one screw, a piece of 2x4 scrap and an automotive tire valve stem to create a

launch pad. 2. Take an empty soda bottle and cut it as shown below (left), cut the top off and cut a slot wide enough for the bicycle pump

hose and deep enough to slide in the rocket, valve stem and bicycle pump hose fitting (the rocket should rest on the cut end of the soda bottle launch pad:

3. Screw the soda bottle to a scrap piece of 2x4 as shown above (right). 4. Shove the tire valve stem into the neck of your soda bottle rocket (Fig. 3). 5. Attach the bicycle pump to the valve stem. 6. Slide the soda bottle rocket with hose attached into the launch pad. See the finished pad ready to launch (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3 Fig. 4 7. Pump it up until it pops!

ALL ABOUT WATER ROCKETS Water (or Bottle) Rockets "Two-Liter Pop Bottle Rockets may well be the GREATEST PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHING TOOL EVER CREATED!!" Middle grades students can manipulate and control variables, see their hypotheses verified or refuted, and graph their findings. High school students experience the nature of science at its best. They can document their abilities with the following concepts: inertia, gravity, air resistance, Newton's laws of motion, acceleration, relationships between work and energy or impulse and momentum, projectile motion, freefall calculations, internal and external ballistics, and the practice of true engineering. How could something that sounds so simple be so complex? Open your mind to the science and mathematics behind this educational "toy." Below are links to a brief history timeline of rocketry, a comparison between water rockets and a NASA rocket, and additional information on the parts of a water rocket. The basic rocket consists of an 18" mailing tube, a 20 oz. soda bottle, fins and a nosecone. Gather the materials well in advance. Materials List:

18" cardboard mailing tube with tube cap

Small quantities of mailing tubes can be purchased from the post office of mailing supply stores (Mailboxes Etc.). Bulk quantities can be ordered from the internet at reduced prices. Papermart.com has some of the best prices. Cut the tube into a 12” section and 6” section.

20 oz. plastic soda bottle (empty)

Ask your local eating establishment or office building with a soda bottle vending machine if you can collect their empty soda bottles.

Poster board Get these in a variety of bright colors for the nosecone.

Matte board This is the thick cardboard used for framing pictures and photos. Some framing stores sell their scrap pieces for very low prices.

Fun Foam This can be purchased at craft supply stores.

In addition to the above materials, you will also need lots of scissors and rolls of 2” wide clear packing tape. Color paper, stickers and markers can also be provided for decorating the rocket. Rocket Construction

Insert Cap

Tape tubes

together

Fold Cone

& Tape

Center Cone &

Tape to tube

Insert Bottle

Wrap foam strip

around bottle & shove in tube

Seal Bottle in

tube w/ tape

Attach fins at fin guides

Tape color paper

to tube, wrap tube & tape

Attach Rocket ID

sticker below cone. Decorate rocket!

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Estes Model Rockets

Recommended Launch Area Minimum Launch Site Dimension for Circular area is Diameter in feet, and for Rectangle Area is Shortest Side in Feet Choose a large fi led away from power lines, buildings, tall trees and low flying aircraft. The larger the launch area, the better your chance of recovering your rocket. Football fields, parks and playgrounds are great. The diagram shows the smallest recommended launch areas. Is model rocketry safe? Estes model rocketry is one of the safest outdoor activities in the world. Over 315 million model rockets have been launched since 1958. Estes has provided over 50 years of education materials and innovative and breathtaking fun to people of all ages. Whether you are into flying rockets at school, for fun or competition, Estes rockets offer a truly rewarding experience. Is model rocketry expensive? The initial cost to get started is less than might be expected compared to many other outdoor activities. Once you have acquired an Estes Launch Set, which includes a rocket or two, launch pad and electric launcher, your cost for your classroom is the additional Estes rocket and engine bulk packs. How high can a model rocket fly? Because of the variety of rocket designs and engines used, the height of rocket flights varies. Estes has model rockets that can fly from 100 feet to several thousand feet and all are reusable. Many Estes rockets have secondary features like payloads and multi-stages. Can I fly my Estes rockets more than once? Estes model rockets are designed to be flown over and over. After launching and recovery, simply repack the rocket with wadding, refold and insert the parachute or streamer, remove the used engine casing and insert a new engine, igniter and igniter plug. Now you are ready for another exciting mission! Is model rocketry safe? Estes model rocketry is one of the safest outdoor activities in the world. Over 315 million model rockets have been launched since 1958. Estes has provided over 50 years of education materials and innovative and breathtaking fun to people of all ages. Whether you are into flying rockets at school, for fun or competition, Estes rockets offer a truly rewarding experience. Where can I fly my model rockets? For launch information, look at the "NAR Model Rocket Safety Code". You should always check with your local city or government for any special regulations that may apply to your area. Generally speaking, you can fly most Estes Educator model rockets on school property in a clear area the size of a football field or soccer field. Launch in little or no wind and make sure there is no dry grass close to the launch pad or in the flying field. What should I do if the engine fails to ignite? If the engine fails to ignite, remove the safety key and wait one minute before approaching the launch pad. A. If the igniter worked, the igniter wasn't touching the propellant. Install a new igniter. When you insert the igniter, do not bend the

wires at all. With the igniter wires sticking straight out, insert the correct sized plug for your engine (color-coded). After the plug is firmly seated, you may then bend the wires. If you bend the wires prior to plug insertion, the bending action has a tendency to draw the igniter tip up and away from the propellant resulting in a misfire.

B. If the igniter did not work: 1. Check the batteries. Weak batteries will illuminate the continuity light, but not have enough power to ignite the igniter. 2. Check the battery contacts in the launch controller. If the batteries rattle when shaking the launch controller, the contacts have

compressed. The continuity light won't illuminate. Open the controller and spread the contacts out.

3. Check the igniter clips. a. Exhaust residue will build up on the clips preventing contact. The continuity light won't illuminate. Clean the clips with

sandpaper or steel wool. b. If they are touching each other, the system has shorted out. The continuity light will illuminate. Separate the clips and launch. c. If they are touching the blast deflector plate, the system has shorted out. The continuity light will illuminate. Separate and

launch. 4. Check the igniter.

a. Usually a broken igniter is indicated by the continuity light not illuminating. b. If the igniter wires near the tip touch each other, the system shorts out. The continuity light will illuminate. Gently separate

and reinstall the igniter plug. You may need a new igniter. What can I do if the rocket lifts off slowly or gets stuck on the launch rod? For a slow liftoff or rocket that hangs on the launch rod: A. Clean the launch rod with steel wool. Exhaust residue can build up, preventing the launch lug from sliding over it easily. B. Check the launch rod joint. If the connecting joint has a rough edge, it will catch the launch lug and prevent the rocket from

passing that point. Lightly sand the rough edge until smooth. C. Check the launch lug(s) on the rocket.

1. If one launch lug is used and is not aligned with the body tube, the direction of the engine thrust is different from the launch rod and causes binding. Visually check the launch lug and make sure it is parallel to the body tube.

2. If two lugs are used and are not aligned with each other properly, the rocket binds on the rod and won't move. This can be checked while placing the rocket on the launch rod. It should slide easily.

What problems can happen with recovery wadding? Recovery wadding problems are: A. Scorched parachute. This occurs when the recovery wadding is crumpled into tight little balls and then inserted into the rocket's

body tube. This leaves gaps around the wadding permitting hot ejection gases to slip around the wadding. The correct way is to loosely crumple each sheet into a ball before inserting them. This fills the air gaps properly. To visually check the wadding, look down into the body tube to see if any light can be seen around the edges. If light shows through, repack the wadding.

B. Substituting tissue paper. Absolutely do not do this! Recovery wadding is specially treated to be flame retardant. When the ejection charge goes off, it produces hot expanding gases to push the parachute out. Recovery wadding provides a physical barrier between the ejection charge and the parachute to prevent the hot gas from melting it. If ordinary tissue paper is used, it will catch fire and burn as it floats to the ground.

My parachute did not deploy. How can I fix this? There are several things that can cause recovery system failures: A. Nose cone doesn't come off— possible problems are:

1. Too much recovery wadding or packed too tight. 2. Parachute/streamer binding in the body tube, not packed small enough. 3. Engine not tight enough in the friction fit engine mount, add more tape to tighten. 4. Nose cone is too tight. Sand the shoulder. It should slide easily. Also check that parts of the shock cord or shroud lines are not

caught by the nose cone. B. Parachute/streamer fails to open:

1. Cold weather — Plastic wants to stay in its confined shape when cold. Pack the system just prior to launch. 2. Hot/humid weather—This causes the plastic to stick to itself. Dust with baby powder before packing. 3. Insufficient amount of recovery wadding or wadding crumpled too tightly. Heat from the ejection charge melted the recovery

system causing its failure. How can I keep my rocket from drifting away? Even when flying within the wind limits, lightweight rockets can drift significant distances. To reduce the effects of drift beyond what can be done by tilting the launch rod, the recovery system needs to be modified to descend quicker. Various methods are: A. Cutting a spill hole: The top of Estes plastic parachutes have a circle that can be cut out. This allows air to flow through it quicker,

increasing the descent rate. The drawback is that the modification to the parachute is permanent. B. Reefing the parachute: Gather the parachute's shroud lines together at the mid-point and wrap a piece of tape around it. This

prevents the parachute from opening fully, thus increasing the descent rate. For calm days, remove the tape. This modification is temporary.

C. Switch to a streamer: Streamers generally descend quicker than parachutes. If the rocket has a parachute, remove it and attach a streamer. Using snap swivels is a great way to make recovery systems easily interchangeable.

What can I do when the standoff won't keep the rocket from touching the blast deflector plate? When this happens, the igniter will short out. Many rockets don't have swept back fins that support the rocket on the launch pad. Here's two ways to fix this: Make a stand off: Place the rocket on the launch rod and hold it about four inches above the blast deflector plate. Take a piece of masking tape and wrap it around the launch rod just below the bottom launch lug. The rocket will rest on the tape, preventing it from bottoming out. A. Use spent engine casings: Slide a few spent engine casings over the launch rod to create a taller stand-off. The balsa fins won't stay on my rocket when I glue them. How can I keep them on? To keep the fins on until the glue dries: A. The best glue to use is carpenter's wood glue. This glue will dry quicker. B. Fin gluing techniques.

1. To create a tight bond, first apply a thin layer of glue to the root edge of the fin and work it gently into the pores and grains of the wood.

2. Repeat this for all the fins. 3. By the time you finish the last fin (1-2 minutes), the first fin has become tacky if not nearly dry. Apply another thin layer to the

first fin. 4. Hold the fin's rear part of the root edge in position on the body tube and with gentle pressure, rotate the fin up until the entire

root edge has made contact. Hold the fin in position for 10 seconds. This rotating action acts like a squeegee to force out any trapped air at the connection which will weaken the joint.

5. Release the fin and you'll find it secure. 6. It is best to hold the rocket vertically when the fins are drying. Stand the rocket on its nose (without the nose cone in place).

Water Rocket Derby What is a Rocket Derby? A rocket derby is a great summertime Pack activity that a scout can do with the whole family. It requires less preparation and setup than the propeller driven space derby kits. A rocket derby uses water rockets that are propelled with water and air pressure. The rockets are simple enough to assemble that Tiger Cubs and siblings age 4 and older can also participate. The scouts and parents get a great thrill at seeing their rockets fly skyward. The rockets can fly up to 50-60 feet in the air. Solid fuel type rockets such as Estes rockets are beyond the capabilities of most Cub Scouts and are not recommended for a Cub Scout rocket derby. Derby Equipment & Supplies Safety Cones Wind Sock or Flag Bicycle Pump or Air Tank Water Buckets & Dish Pan Empty soda bottles Launch Pad: This will be the most expensive item required for the rocket derby. You will need a launch pad that is capable of handling up to 100 pounds of air pressure. You can construct your own launcher, or purchase one ready-made. There are several web sites on the internet that have construction plans, and launch pads for purchase. Most launch pads are constructed of PVC piping. These rockets are great for water rocket derbies. They are inexpensive to make, easy to construct and are quite durable. They are capable of reaching over 100 feet in height.

1. Insert the tube cap onto the end of the 6" tube, which has 3 marks for the fin guides. 2. Stack 12" tube onto capped end of short tube. Tape the tubes together. 3. Shape the fan-shaped cardboard into a nosecone and tape together, making sure that the opening fits onto the cardboard

tube. 4. Center the nosecone onto the end of the 12" tube, and tape the nosecone onto the tube. Completely cover the nosecone

with tape. 5. Insert the plastic soda bottle into the 6" tube, with the opening sticking out. 6. Wrap the strip of fun foam around the top of the bottle, and shove it into the cardboard tube. The fun foam keeps the bottle

from moving around in the tube. 7. Seal the bottle in tube with tape.

8. Place each fin onto a fin guide on the 6" tube. The fin point should be pointing toward the nosecone. Tape fins SECURELY onto tube, and cover completely with tape.

9. Wrap the rocket body with 1-1/2 sheets of color paper (will be provided), and tape onto the rocket. Tape the color paper to the tube before wrapping around tube.

10. Attach Rocket ID Sticker below nosecone. Decorate rocket with markers, stickers, etc.

Tips for Running a Rocket Derby Plan event well in advance, set date and location (Park with large field).

Prepare rocket kits in advance. Conduct workshop before event for assembling rockets, or build during a den or pack meeting.

For competition, judge rockets for flight time (from lift-off to landing).

Get volunteers (parents) for:

Event Coordinator

Time keeper (with stopwatch)

Water fillers (to fill rockets)

Launch crew (to operate the launch pads)

Compress rockets to a maximum of 85 psi for competition (vary pressure based on wind and environment).

Always following safety precautions! Rocket Derby Staff To run a smooth rocket derby, you must have enough adults to staff the event. Ask some of the parents to help, especially those who are not already Pack leaders. Here are some of the staff positions:

Registration (1) This person will check in the scout, assign him a number, and inspect the rocket.

Time Keeper (1) This person will record the time aloft for each rocket with a stopwatch.

Water Filler (1) This person will assist each boy in filling the rockets with water (1/3 of the bottle is filled with water). Have on hand a bucket of water and extra 20 oz. bottles at the water station.

Launch Crew (2) Two people are required at the launch pad. One person to place the rocket on the pad, and the other person to pump the air. An air tank can be used, but may lose pressure with continued use. A bicycle pump requires a lot of pumping, but is a cheaper alternative. Use a pressure gauge (can be attached to the launch pad, air tank or bicycle pump) to keep a consistent level of pressure for each launch. An ideal pressure is 85 psi.

Rocket Derby Competition The main goal of the rocket derby is the same as the pinewood derby – for the scout to spend quality time with his parents constructing and launching the rockets, and to have fun! Participation is much more important than the competition itself.

The rocket derby can be just a fun activity to spend a nice afternoon launching rockets.

To add the spirit of competition, ribbons or prizes can be awarded for construction (coolest looking, most unusual, tallest, shortest, most space-age), and for flight (highest, longest time aloft).

To measure height, several height gauges can be constructed and positioned at various spots away from the launch pad. An average height should be calculated to eliminate any bias from the readings.

To measure time aloft, time the rocket from the time it leaves the launch pad until the first part of the rocket touches the ground. If time permits, launch the rockets 2 times, and calculate the total time to determine the winner. This is the easiest method for competitions.

Have a separate division for the siblings. Rocket Derby Patches Patchsales.com has a couple of Rocket Derby patches available. Visit www.patchsales.com and search for “Rocket Derby.” These patches are reasonably priced and can be awarded for participation in the rocket derby.

Launch Site Preparations Below is a description of each position that may be needed and a layout of the field to help you organize your launch day. Range Safety Officer (RSO) - Yourself or the leader who is in charge. The RSO has the final say in all situations. The RSO watches the safety key at all times and checks the air-worthiness of all rockets. Launch Control Officer (LSO) - The person responsible for actually fi ring the rocket. Control panel set-up and dismantling is also this person’s responsibility. Tracking Officer (TO) - This person is responsible for the set-up, operation and coordination of the tracking sites. 1-2 Tracking Site - These could consist of several positions at each site. Positions could include: tracking the rocket to measure its altitude, recording altitude data and a runner to communicate with the TO back at the launch pad. Recovery Crews (RC) - Consist of several people who follow the flight, recover and return the rocket to the range head.

Tracker 1

Tracker 2 Range Safety Officer

Data Recording Table

Preparation Table

Recovery Team Launch Control Officer

National or Club Flag

Range-In-Operation Pennant (optional)

Students-Observers

Parking Area (optional)

Launch Pad