Launchpad Kinematics Unit Plan - STEM Rocketry for High School

Overview

Mission Brief: Assessing Rocket Performance with Variable Cargo Loads

Students will take on the role of aerospace engineers testing the Cosmic Cargo rocket, designed to transport supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station. The objective is to determine how varying cargo (payload) weights affect the rocket’s motion during launch. Using kinematic equations and Estes altimeters to gather accurate flight data, students will perform launches with different cargo weights. The goal is to analyze how these variations in weight influence the rocket's performance metrics, such as achieving safe and efficient ascent speeds. This experiment not only helps students understand the critical balance between cargo load and rocket capabilities essential for successful space missions, but also gives them insight into the career of an aerospace engineer who must design, test, and optimize spacecraft to meet complex demands.

Note to Educators: This unit caters to all experience levels but holds particular value for those new to the intricacies of rocket and payload design. It is highly recommended that teachers construct a model rocket beforehand to better guide the students through each step. Having a concrete example in the classroom can illuminate the process and offer insights into the challenges your students may face. Enjoy your expedition into the dynamic world of rocket science!

Materials

Each Student Needs:

Goggles
Student Portfolio

Each Classroom Needs:

Slide Presentation
Cosmic Cargo Rocket Bulk Pack
B6-4 Engines
Estes Altimeter
Lifetime Launch System
Camera
Scale
Clear Tape
Balloons
String
Straw
Pennies
Ruler

For this Unit Plan

Standards

HS-PS2-1

Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.

HS-PS2-2

Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system.

HS-ETS1-3

Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints.

HS-LS1.A

Feedback mechanisms maintain a living system’s internal conditions within certain limits and mediate behaviors, allowing it to remain alive and functional even as external conditions change within some range.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.2

Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.B.6

Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot, and describe how the variables are related.

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Vocabulary

ACCELERATION

The rate at which an object changes its velocity.

AERODYNAMICS

The study of the properties of moving air, and especially of the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it.

AEROSPACE ENGINEER

A type of engineer that focuses on problems related to the atmosphere and space flight such as aircrafts and spacecrafts.

ALTIMETER

An instrument used to measure the altitude or height of an object above a fixed level.

ASCENT

The act of rising or moving upward; used to describe the phase of a rocket's launch as it goes into space.

DRAG

The aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft’s motion through the air; it can also refer to the force of air resistance.

EXPERIMENTATION

The process of performing a scientific procedure, especially in a laboratory setting, to determine something or to test a hypothesis.

G-FORCE

A measure of acceleration felt as weight per unit mass.

GRAVITATIONAL PULL

The attraction that the Earth, moon, or other massively large object exerts on another body, causing it to fall toward the center of the body.

KINEMATICS

The branch of mechanics that describes the motion of objects without necessarily discussing the forces that cause the motion.

MASS

A measure of the amount of matter in an object, usually measured in kilograms or grams.

NEWTON'S LAWS

Three fundamental laws of classical physics that describe the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it, and its motion in response to those forces.