| Are you looking for some topics to
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| | performance?
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| present that can add excitement to your
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| | 6. Planetary differences: how does the
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| science classroom? Rocketry and space
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| | same rocket perform on different
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| exploration, like no other subject, have
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| | planets in our solar system.
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| a way to captivate students that makes
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| | 7. Dynamics and harmonic motion with
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| it easy for them to learn science. They
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| | damping.
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| are having so much fun, that they don't
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| | 8. Engineering - how parts fit together.
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| even realize they are learning basic
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| | 9. Newton's Laws of motion.
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| science concepts.
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| | 10. Artistic expression - because every
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| To leverage the benefits of this area of
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| | student can design a different looking
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| study, you can use your school's
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| | rocket, and change colors of the
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| computer to explore a lot of different
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| | components to further increase the
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| science topics. In the January 2005
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| | rocket's uniqueness.
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| issue of the education magazine, "Tech
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| | 11. Explaining distance, velocity, and
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| Directions" ( there is an article by
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| | acceleration.
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| Spencer C. Wilson of J.R. Fugett Middle
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| | 12. Material properties, like density and
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| School in West Chester. In it, he
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| | volume.
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| describes how he uses a rocket design
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| | 13. The importance of weight and balance
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| software, called RockSim ( to show
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| | (CG position) when designing rockets.
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| students the process of engineering
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| | 14. Explaining that Work = Force X
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| design.
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| | Distance.
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| In this article, I'd like to give you
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| | 15. Explaining the concepts of Kinetic
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| some other ideas on how to use the
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| | and Potential Energy.
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| model rocket design software to
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| | 16. Showing free-fall, and terminal
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| demonstrate other basic science
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| | velocity.
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| concepts. Here are some benefits to
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| | 17. The importance of units and unit
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| using RockSim software:
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| | conversion.
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| 1. Allows the student to simulate
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| | 18. The importance of following
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| hundreds of rocket flights very quickly
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| | directions.
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| -- this saves lots of money! Just think
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| | 19. Exporting data and using spreadsheet
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| of the time saved too. You don't have
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| | programs to perform data reduction and
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| to spend hundreds of dollar buying
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| | manipulation
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| motors and hours-and-hours of time
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| | 20. To show why multi-stage and cluster
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| building different configurations,
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| | motor rockets are used in real rockets.
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| launching, recovering, and repacking
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| | 21. Concept of stored chemical energy (in
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| rockets to test one control feature.
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| | the rocket propellant) and how it is
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| 2. Safety. When you go out to fly
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| | converted to mechanical energy.
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| rockets, knowing how they'll behave is
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| | 22. Concept of efficiency - getting the
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| an important aspect of safety.
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| | most performance from the least
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| Precautions can be made. By running the
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| | exertion of energy. Can be explained by
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| simulations, the students learn what
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| | the different types of propellant
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| concepts contribute to keeping the actual
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| | formulations.
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| launch safe.
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| | 23. Showing the concept of momentum and
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| 3. The scientific value is awesome. Each
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| | how it affects the optimum mass of the
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| launch simulation generates a mountain
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| | rocket.
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| of useful data. Analyzing this data is
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| | 24. Finding the optimal launch angle for
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| a fantastic way to teach the scientific
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| | breezy conditions.
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| method.
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| | 25. Optimal launch angle for distance
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| 4. Students love software because it is
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| | (ballistic curves), and how it varies
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| fun! It has features like a video game,
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| | with the thrust curve of the motor.
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| so the students may not realize how much
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| | 26. Show how the distribution of mass
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| they are learning at the same time.
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| | affects the dynamic stability of the
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| 5. The RockSim software is the same tool
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| | rocket.
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| that is used by real rocketry
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| | 27. Demonstrating the concept of "Numeric
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| professionals - like NASA, military
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| | Precision" -- the more iterations
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| contractors, and universities. So you can
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| | performed, the better the accuracy.
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| feel confident in the results you get
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| | 28. Show how different shaped components
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| back from the program.
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| | affects the static stability of the
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| 6. The software allows students to
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| | rocket.
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| explore their creativity. They can
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| | 29. Compare the thrust curves of
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| design vastly different looking models,
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| | different motors. This can show how
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| while learning engineering skills,
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| | different geometries (hole size,
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| assembly steps, and physics.
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| | location, dimensions) affect the thrust
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| Here are just some of the many topics you
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| | produced by the rocket.
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| can explore with RockSim:
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| | 30. Concept of "Impulse:" which is a
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| 1. Aerodynamics and drag reduction.
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| | thrust force multiplied by the time
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| 2. Forces of flight: Lift, Drag, Thrust,
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| | duration that thrust is created. The
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| and Gravity.
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| | higher the impulse, the more power the
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| 3. Projectile motion.
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| | motor has.
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| 4. Rocket propulsion as used for space
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| | As you can see, the RockSim software is a
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| travel.
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| | versatile tool. You'll save hundreds of
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| 5. Atmospheric studies: how does
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| | dollars because it can be used in a
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| temperature and pressure affect
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| | variety of ways.
|
