Gold Seal Lesson:
Having A Blast With Rockets

Copernicus Education Gateway

 

Subject:

Science

Grade:

 

 

9-12

 

 

ICLE Standards:

 

 

Understand motion and the principles that explain it.

Understand and apply scientific concepts in natural and human-made environments.

 

 

Performance Task:

 

 

This task requires you to apply your knowledge of aerodynamics and physical laws to design a rocket to be launched using compressed air. First, make a scale drawing of your rocket design with all parts labeled and make a list of materials with design justification pertaining to aerodynamics. After approved by your teacher, you are to build the rocket using your design and materials list. After you have completed constructing your rocket, make a presentation to the class about your rocket, explaining the thinking that you did to arrive at your rocket design. Tell why you feel your rocket will blast off and that you will make a successful launch.

After all presentations are made to the class, develop a class set of safety guidelines. Using these guidelines, launch your rocket, trying to achieve maximum horizontal flight distance.

Note to the teacher: You may wish to give students some design parameters which they must adhere to in constructing their rockets. If time is a constraint, you may prefer to have the students make a written report that explains their rocket and the thinking they did to arrive at its design.

 

 

Knowledge / Skills:

 

 

Plan and apply real or hypothetical models and constructions to facilitate investigation and learning and the solution to practical problems.  (s115)

Understand and apply statics (i.e., the relation between forces acting on an object at rest) and dynamics (i.e., the relation between the forces acting on an object and the resulting motion).  s84)

Present information in well-organized fashion that will be clear to the target audience.  (ela11)

 

 

Rubric:

 

 

Each of the following should be rated on a scale from 4-1, four being the highest rating.
4 3 2 1

4 3 2 1
Use of principles of aerodynamics in designing rocket ___ ___ ___ ___
Degree to which rocket is within the design parameters (if given) ___ ___ ___ ___
Presentation of rocket design to the class explaining the design process thinking ___ ___ ___ ___
Use of safety guidelines ___ ___ ___ ___
Neatness and quality of scale drawing ___ ___ ___ ___
Defined list of materials needed for building the rocket ___ ___ ___ ___
Distance achieved in rocket launch ___ ___ ___ ___

 

 

 

Keywords:

 

 

PHYSICS
ENERGY
MECHANICS
MOTION
TECHNOLOGY
AERO DYNAMICS
MODELS AND CONSTRUCTION
ORAL PRESENTATION  

CHEMISTRY
SCIENTIFIC PROCESS

 

 

Grades:

 

 

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [] - 6 [] - 7 [] - 8 [] - 9 [X] - 10 [X] - 11 [X] - 12 [X]

 

 

ICLE Application:

 

 

D

 

 

 

 

 

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