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Math Rocket Project Writeup

Cris Sporl

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♥Cover Letter♥
This project was new to me. It was very interesting to try something I have
never done. We were given a prompt to build a launchable water bottle rocket. We were
pushed to the test of creating a successful rocket. My partner and I started an
engineering design process by first brainstorming, asking questions. and research
rockets. We chose a Design and stuck with it. Next, we used the planning and creating
part engineering design process to make a blueprint we were happy with. Then we
started creating a rocket, once it was first made we did multiple test launches, which
gave us insight into what to improve. Using past knowledge from past weeks' lessons,
helped us understand how velocity and acceleration plays a part and takes effect on
the rocket, and how we find those for our own rocket. Velocity is the directional speed
of an object in motion, this shows its rate of change in different positions in time.
Acceleration is the rate at which an object changes its velocity. If an object is
accelerating if it is changing its velocity. We used quadratic functions to help us with
calculations. We used this function because the subject we are calculating for is a
projectile. Using the position of something as a function of time, the derivatives give its
velocity and acceleration. We used this calculation to find the max height, flight time,
velocity, and time of max height. Considering the struggles overall this project was
very interesting and A cool experience I would do again.
♥Calculations♥

✧Max Height✧
1) The First step we used to find data for the
max height was drawing a right triangle to represent
the height of the rocket. To the right triangle, we
added a shape representing the tripod/ launcher to
get a more exact height. We know that theta
represents an angle and a known horizontal distance
(x) of 200ft. We don't know the max height (y).
2) To solve and find that max height (y) we used
SohCahToa. We used tan in sohcahtoa because we
need to use the data we already know. We know the
adjacent side, and we need to find the opposite side.
We put data into the formula and calculated the max
height.

✧Flight Time✧
1) The thing we did to find flight time was
first to find an area video of are rocket launching.
From that video, we rewatched it over and over,
and we noted the video time of the takeoff, max
height, and landing. This photo shows me
calculating the time of base height time, top
height time, and total flight time.
 ✧Initial Velocity✧
1) The next thing we needed to find is the
rocket's velocity. Before starting the equation,
We used variables and constants to make a
table of the needed variables.
2) Next, we insert numbers into the given
formula, height function. After simplifying
and solving each common variable together,
The definitive tells us velocity, we set h(t) as
zero and then solve for velocity. we got the
outcome of 131.25ft/sec as velocity.

✧Theoretical Flight
Time✧
1) Using the same Formula,
we took out the numbers we needed for a,
b, and c or quadratic formula.
2) With our numbers, we
can insert them into quadratic formulas,
3) Using Andes Quadratic
spreadsheet, we got two zeros; the larger
one represents flight time.

○
 ♥Blueprint♥
-Head/ Nose cone

-
-Parachute

-Second Bottle

-First Bottle (Presser Chamber)

-Fins x4

Supply List
● Nose Cone
○ The nose cone provided the detachment system of the parachute. It's made out of thin clear plastic.
● Parachute
○ The parachute we used was made out of a trash bag; it was small and attached to the rocket under the none
cone. The force affecting the cone on the landing of the rocket makes it deploy.
● Second bottle
○ This second bottle is a part of the presser chamber, making the rocket bigger.
● First Bottle (Presser Chamber)
 ○ This is the main bottle, This is a presser chamber and water chamber.
● Fins x4
○ The fins are small and heart-shaped. They are made of foam board. x4

♥Reflection♥
What challenges did you encounter in this project, and how did you navigate those challenges?
Some of the challenges we faced were the nose of a rocket and are un consistent launches. When first making a
rocket the design of the nose cone was made to be detachable with a parachute underneath. The cone was to a point
to help with aerodynamics. This was the design for my partner and me. However, we came to notice that the cone
was a problem when we saw at a test launch that the rocket would always go to the left or right. For a successful
launch, you are aiming for the rocket to go straight up and hit a high max height, deploy safely and come back
down. Even though the test parachute was successful every time, the rocket wouldn't go very high. We noticed that
the nose cone was crooked. We connected that if the nose cone were just the smallest bit tilted, it would affect the
launch. After seeing this, I chose to add on and edit rockets. I added a source of stabilization to the head cone.
Although the rocket didn't turn out successful, this did improve the rocket and help with future test launches.
What were your successes in this project, and how would you relay those successes to next year’s sophomores?
Looking back at the launch, I feel although we did try our best, the rocket wasn't very successful. There are multiple
things I wish I could go back and redo. The rocket worked better during tests, but we did not succeed on exhibition
day. But the unsuccessful launches helped us take consideration to revise the rocket. I think this helped us
understand what you need to succeed. We Started test launches with a rocket that was just made; it was weaker and
not resized. After the first test launch, my partner and I took into consideration that we should add support to the
less supported places. We added more tape and reinforced the design. Due to this, I would give advice and teach
others always to revise and take in what went wrong during tests. A part of the engineering design system is testing,
and I believe it's very important always to improve and could be improved. This could help with the end product
being a successful rocket.
What was a turning point for you in this project and why?
Looking back at the process of making this over weeks, The one moment that stood out as a turning point was
coming to a realization. We noticed that other students with the same design had better results and more successful
rocket launches. After seeing that the rocket wasn't doing that well during tests, we decided to work even harder at
making it better. The rocket seemed small and unsupported. Due to this, we made an action plan during the end
days of our work time to add stability and strength to the rocket before the next test launch. We added supports for
the cone, wings, and base. We saw the outcome of the rocket improve, and even though it wasn't a lot, I still consider
this a turning point in the project. It stands out because we considered what could be changed, and it's a turning
point because our whole goal and attitude about building changed.
If you were to do this project again, what would you do differently and why?
Because of the rocket's failure, I wish I could have resized the rocket differently. I wish after each test launch, I
would have thought even more than I was about what I could have improved. Not only this, but I wish me and my
partner would have researched more designs at the beginning of the engineering design process. The wings were
very weak, and I wish I had made them more sturdy and supported. This came to our attention while test launching
the rocket. The rocket would go in directions we didn't want. The rocket's test performance shows how we could
have done something different. Even though I am proud of my attempt at this project, I am not happy with the
outcome. I feel as though if we had changed even the thinking of our design or the wings and head, the outcome
would have been different. Although I can't prove It would have been different, more refinement would have been
very helpful. I did enjoy this project and even some of the challenges I faced and solved along the way. But if I could
go back once more to the altar of the rocket, I would.