RUNNING HEAD: Model Rocket 1

Team America Rocketry Challenge Final Paper

By Amy Nguyen and Sidney Boakye

05/28/2017

Governors School @ Innovation Park

Dr. Psaker

Abstract
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The concept of flight has always fascinated people throughout human history. In our project, we

also attempt to nurture our curiosity using model rocketry. Our project was based on The Team

America Rocketry Challenge. This is a challenge which ask high school student to construct and

launch a model rocket 750 feet into the air and safely bring the apparatus back down. The rocket

must reach the desired height in 42 seconds and return to the ground with minimal visible

damage. On top of this, a hen egg must be loaded inside of the rocket and remain intact from

start to finish. The materials used must be approved by the AIA, Aerospace Industries

Association, as well as the Federal Laws of Aviation and the Model Rocket Safety Code of the

National Association of Rocketry. This project explores various concepts related to physics

including propulsion, structural analysis, altitude determination, CAD simulation, inertia and

various gravitational concepts. Upon multiple test the rocket could reach the desired height but it

was difficult to do this within the required time frame. It was determined that if the rocket carried

more mass or had a less powerful motor; then the desired time could be reached.

Introduction/Background
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For our project we wanted to do something that entailed some sort of competition. We realized

that it will propel us to do our best since we probably will be competing with like minded

individuals who are just as enthused about space as we are. We browsed through different kinds

of competitions and came across the Team America Rocketry Contest. We chose this contest

because it was a well established competition filled with good opportunities for scholarships,

college offers, and good sponsors. It was also a good chance to explore different laws of physics

and aviation that can help to improve or ensure safety within the airspace. It also provides an

opportunity for us to experiment with engineering concepts that we otherwise wouldn't have had

the chance to explore.

Questions

How far can an egg be launched in a rocket before landing safely down on the ground with no
damage to the egg or rocket?
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How does the velocity compare when the rocket is in freefall compared to when its not?

Hypothesis

If the rocket flies up for 41-43 seconds, then it will reach an altitude of 775 feet around that time

period. According to a computerized simulation however, if the rocket flies up for 6.20 seconds,

then it will reach an altitude of 1632.84 ft at a velocity of 571.46 ft/sec.

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Materials and Methods

For the Team America Rocketry Contest, each team must work within these parameters:

The rocket must not exceed 650 grams gross weight at liftoff.
They must use body tubes of two different diameters for their exterior structure.
The smaller-diameter of the two must be used for the lower (motor and fin) end of

the rocket and must not be greater than 42 millimeters (1.65 inches, corresponding to
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body tubes generally called BT-60) in diameter, and the larger one must be large enough

to contain the egg (which may be up to 45 millimeters) plus padding and altimeter.
Each tube must have no less than 150 millimeters (5.91 inches) of exposed length,
The overall length of the rocket must be no less than 650 millimeters (25.6

inches) as measured from the lowest to the highest points of the airframe structure in

launch configuration.
Rockets may not be commercially-made kits designed to carry egg payloads with

the only modification being the addition of an altimeter compartment.

They must have only one stage and must be powered only by commercially-made

model rocket motors of F or lower power class that are listed on the TARC Certified

Engine List posted on the TARC website and provided in the TARC Handbook.

Materials

1. Balsa wood
2. A nose cone,
3. Rocket engines
4. Rocket igniter,
5. Model launch pad,
6. A 12 inch parachute made out of plastic,
7. A body tube,
8. Foam,
9. Bubble wrap,
10. Streamers,
11. A firefly altimeter,
12. A motor mount.

The first part of the project had been the construction of the rocket. The initial design had

included some things that were taken out such as the foam surrounding the motors, which would

have caused the rocket to light on fire. There had also been things that had been added in such as

a centering ring to hold the egg holder in place and centering rings to hold the motor and the

motor mount. The final design had also included a rounded nose cone instead of a pointed one

because that would limit air drag surrounding it, causing the air to spread around it rather then
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centering on the point sticking out. There were then several pieces to construct before putting the

actual rocket together such as the parachute connected to the egg case, the fins from the balsa

wood, the mounting for the motors, the nose cone, as well as the body tubes which would be

connected by a coupler.

The parachute attached to the egg holder and was made of lightweight plastic material.

This was eventually switched out for a stronger parachute as the plastic one was deemed too

weak to hold up the egg. Balsa wood was purchased and used for the fins of the model rocket,

this type of wood was chosen because of its light weight. Four wings were used to have better

stability in flight. Initially, four pieces of balsa wood were ordered and only two pieces of wood

were needed to make four fins that worked well.

Rocket Log

It was 4:46 when I departed to the rocket site and 5:05 pm when I arrived. Most of the rocket
was already constructed using the instructional class Mentorship. During Spring Break I ordered
a few more necessities such as the launch pad, the electronic launcher, and the fireproof wadding.
Once on site I put the fireproof wadding at the top of the rocket motor then put the the egg holder
and parachute inside the upper rocket body tube (over the wadding). I needed a way to keep the
parachute attached to the rocket, to ensure a non-ballistic descent, so I created 4 tape cylinders to
that were meant to catch the sides of the egg contain. Finally, after folding the parachute I started
the FIREFLY altimeter, and placed it in its capsule. Then I put the capsule into the nose cone and
fitted the cone at the top of the rocket.

I was almost ready to fly but the last thing I needed to do was to connect the electric
ignition switch to the rocket motor. This was the most tedious part of the launch yet, once I
noticed it was self imposed it became one of the easiest and most according to plan part. To
connect the rocket motor to the electronic ignition switch I needed to jam FIRSTFIRE JR
ignitors into the motor so that the electric charge from the switch would ignite the solid
propellent in the motor. The igniters MUST make contact for the propellent to catch fire and the
rocket to launch.

Finally, I was ready! I told everyone with me to back away to a safe distance while I
counted down from 10. I plugged in the safety key (which turns off the safety) and counted
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down. 3...2...1.click! I prepare myself and wait for launch,... and wait,... and wait,... and wait. I
see smoke come from the bottom of the rocket but the rocket does not launch. After waiting one
minute, for safety, I approach the rocket. I think I know what has gone wrong. I believe that the
wiring was not in-contact with the gunpowder inside of the motor. This would have resulted in
the wire just burning and smoke being produced. Next I used an easier technique to have the wire
make contact with the propellent. I retry the launch with a different motor and it WORKS! A
huge roar comes out of the powerful rocket which could definitely be heard all over the middle
school campus. I am completely shaken up (so it my cameraman unfortunately) so it takes me a
little while to look up. I eventually do, but I soon regret it. I see a white cloud overhead, and
slowly fluttering down are different pieces of my model rocket.

In the end I am able to retrieve my egg-covered altimeter (the egg did not survive), and
learn the maximum high travelled. 81 Feet above the starting position.

Maximum Height of Rocket: 81 Feet

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Data and Data Analysis

According to the data collected, the rocket had reached a maximum height of 81 feet in

3.59 seconds. Using the data, the final velocity before free fall was able to be determined by

calculations shown below.

hmax= 81 ft

m= 361.2 g= .3612 kg

t1= 2.16 seconds

tup= 3.59 seconds

t2= 3.59-2.16 = 1.43 seconds

Vinitial= 0

Vfinal= ?

Jnet= P

Jnet= Jthrust - Jgravity

Jthrust= 70 N/s (given)

Jgravity= m*g* t1= .3612*9.81*2.16= 7.653 m*kg

P= mvfinal - mvinitial

P= mvfinal b/c mvinital= 0

Jthrust-Jgravity = mvfinal

70 - 7.653 = .3612 vfinal

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vfinal= 172.6 m/s

The velocity in times 1 and 2 are very different. The velocity in time 1 was higher because of

thrust and the velocity in time 2 is lower because as its in free fall, the only force acting upon it

is gravity.
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Conclusions

The rocket flew only 81 feet within 3.59 seconds, disproving the first and second

hypothesis.
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References

Aerospace Industries Association AIA (2016). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=gYh1pWHoQXE&t=2s

Aerospace Industries Association AIA (2016). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

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Hall, N. (2015). Rocket Propulsion. Retrieved from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-

12/airplane/rocket.html

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https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/bgp.html

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Hall, N. (2015). What is Thrust? Retrieved from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-

12/airplane/thrust1.html

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https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/thrsteq.html

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NASA Staff. Brief History of Rockets. Retrieved from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-

12/TRC/Rockets/history_of_rockets.html

TARC. (2016). TARC Rulebook (2017 ed.). Arlington, VA: AIA.