Rocket Science - Newton's Third Law of Motion – SCOPES-DF
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Lesson Details

Subjects *
Engineering, Science
Age Ranges *
All ages
Fab Tools *
Tape, Scissors, paper
Standards
MS-ETS1-3
Author
ATUL YADAV

Author

ATUL YADAV
ATUL YADAV
Maker
I am a maker, learner , IT Professional and part time educator. Mechanical engineer by education but programmer by job. Learning ,building and then sharing new things is my passion. I like to see how education can be more fun… Read More

Summary

While teaching Newton’s Third Law of Motion, teachers can build this simple Balloon Rocket (which is little different than usual Balloon rocket attached to string).

Teacher can start with simple balloon and try to show students how balloon trajectory is unpredictable. Then teacher can guide students to build this rocket and show how simple engineering concepts help in controlling trajectory of Balloon.

This experiment would help in following engineering concepts (on high level)-

  • Engineering concept of Nozzle , flow of air for trajectory management – Teacher can make use of different air outlets ( nozzles)
  • Use of stabilizers / fins getting used in Rocket design – Teacher can experiment with different number of fins and its sizes.

 

What You'll Need

Following things we would need to perform / make Balloon Rocket –

  1. Balloon
  2. Unused Marker Pen
  3. Paper Cup
  4. Masking Tape
  5. Scissor
  6. Pen

The Instructions

Attach Nozzle ( Marker Pen Tip Holder) to Balloon

Air coming out of balloon provides thrust to this Rocket (Force to push rocket upwards against gravity). In real rocket , this is achieved by burning fuel. Gases escape out of nozzle, create thrust to push rocket upwards.

  • Remove marker pen tip holder from marker pen and insert into balloon as shown in picture.

 

  • Note that conical portion is coming out of balloon opening. This forms passage for air to come out.

 

Prepare Base for Holding Rocket Nozzle

This step help us to build Rocket base which is critical for holding Balloon, Nozzle and adding stabilizer fins. In real rockets, every gram / ounce counts. Increase in weight means more thrust / force require to push rocket out of Earth's gravity. We have to keep a watch on how much weight we are adding to our Rocket.

  • Take one Paper cup and cut it into two parts (cut out 3/4 portion).

 

  • Also cut three legs as shown in picture. The idea is to reduce weight.

 

 

 

Prepare Flaps / Fins for Rocket as Stabalizers

In this step, we shall add fins to our Rocket Base to stabilize our Rocket while moving. You can make another model without these fins and observe the Rocket performance.

  • Prepare three square cuts from left over paper cup as show in picture

 

 

  • Fold them into half and stick them to base of rocket with the help of masking tape.

 

 

 

  • Note that those must be placed symmetrically. Here you can experiment with width of fins. You can also increase or decrease number of fins (to study its effect).

 

 

  • Make a whole in a base of cup as shown using pen.

 

 

Attach Nozzle + Balloon to the Base

In this step, we are going to use tape to attach Nozzle to rocker base (paper cup).

  • Insert nozzle (attached to balloon) inside hole of a cup base (See picture)

 

 

  • Use masking tape to secure the nozzle to rocket base.

 

 

 

 

 

  • This makes whole assembly and our Rocket is ready to go.

 

Video showing performance – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HkOFqZNg4c

Variations and experimentation

You can try experimenting number of fins, different sizes of cups etc. It is found that 4 fins work fine compared to 3 fins.

  • 4 fins design

Standards

  • (MS-ETS1-3): Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.

Common Core Standards

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