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Materials:

• Paper, scissors, tape, measuring tape • Markers or similar art supplies • Reusable Stomp Rocket Launcher • 3/4” PVC pipe or similar plastic tube to use as a model for

creating paper tubes. *This model must be at least equal in diameter to the Stomp Rocket Launcher tube.*

Preparation:

• Set up a launch zone with enough distance from the designing area to safely launch rockets.

• Consider marking off measurement marks or taping a measuring tape to the floor near the launcher to measure the distance each rocket travels.

• Before each launch, make sure the launch zone is clear.

Try This: 1. Wrap a piece of paper around the plastic tube model. Tape

it closed, but do not tape it to the plastic tube. Take the plastic tube out from inside the paper tube. The paper tube will act as the rocket body.

2. Design and create a nose cone. One design is to cut out another rectangle of paper (approximately 3”x 5”) and twisting into a cone shape. Tape it closed.

3. If you choose, cut out shapes to act as rocket fins. 4. Tape the nose cone and fins to your rocket body in any way you choose. 5. Test your rocket by adding it to the rocket launcher. Measure how far it flies. 6. Change your rocket design, the launch angle, or the force used to launch to see whether

you can make your rocket fly farther.

Want to Know More? Stomp rockets are made from paper, but they are still affected by the four forces of flight: weight, thrust, lift, and drag. The balance of each of these forces will affect how your rocket flies through the air. If the weight is too much, it may not fly very high. Your nose cone shape may increase or decrease the amount of drag and the amount of force used to launch will affect the amount of thrust. The path your rocket takes through the air is called the trajectory. Changing the launch angle and design of your rocket may also change the trajectory. Experiment by changing one thing at a time and re-testing!

Stomp Rockets Design, create, and test a paper rocket, focusing on the distance the rocket travels. Increase the distance your rocket travels by changing the velocity, air pressure, and angle of launch.

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Stomp Rockets

Facilitator Guide

Learning Objectives:

• Changing the launch trajectory of the rocket affects the distance the rocket travels. • Fins stabilize the rocket, allowing it to follow the intended path of flight. • The higher the air pressure, the more thrust for the rocket.

Leading Questions:

• How could you improve your rocket design to make it travel farther? • How do the fins and nose cone affect the flight of your rocket? • How far did your rocket travel? • What helps keep your rocket airborne?

Hospital Accommodations:

• For children using a wheelchair, they may be able to squeeze the rocket launcher bag with their hands to launch, or try rolling over it with their chair. If neither of these options work, they can act as an engineer/mission control and pick someone to help launch.

• You’ll need a larger space to accommodate this activity. Outdoor spaces or large playrooms work well!

• Be ready to step in and help those still developing fine motor control.

Key Words: Projectile - an object that is propelled forward through the air.

Thrust - the propulsive force of a jet or rocket engine.

Trajectory - the path followed by a projectile or object moving under the action of given forces.

Airborne - when an object travels through the air after launch.