Basic Rocketry and Aerodynamics

The art of making matchbox rockets is more complicated than it seems. Utilizing the principle of action-reaction and the basic nature of gases, we can hopefully launch a rocket a couple of feet. Unfortunately, it requires painstaking hours of trial and error to ensure that most of the gases escape out of the tin foil tube's end. Sometimes, it takes a couple of tries to make the rocket work. Overall, to be honest, it wasn't really enjoyable because it involves playing with matches, which I am not particularly a fan of. However, it was necessary to understand the design of rockets before we delved in further on this particularly expansive topic.

My most successful design was made earlier during the experment in which I wrapped tightly the foil around the match with a little hole at the bottom to ensure the most pressure possible for the gases out of the "rocket." I learned this technique by watching a video teaching a different method on the matchbox rocket that I derived my design from. Unfortunately, this design worked only once and the rest floundered in success. Hopefully, I can be able to withdraw my fear of matches and be more successful in this interesting but kind of boring experiment. However, I viewed a better way to this project in a video that Ms. Malonek could have used and would have ensured a greater success rate.

The aerodynamics involved in rocketry is quite similar to airplanes. In order to maintain stability while in the atmosphere, rockets must use stabilizers. These fins on the side serve that function. As the rocket travels upwards or in a parabolic motion, it spins to provide stability. Many missiles and rockets utilize that for accuracy. Also, rockets must employ a general aerodynamic shape to ensure decreased air resistance for fuel efficiency.

In our rocket experiment this morning, Henry Lee attempted to use fins on the sides of the rocket to ensure aerodynamics. However, his design failed as it also floundered and burned up like the other rockets. It did inspire me though to pursue the design until it failed miserably like the rest. However, I believe that if I had pursued my tight cylindrical design with his fins, it would have worked like a charm. Perhaps we can try this experiment again sometimes but with better implementation as I saw in that video I  checked out.