It Is Rocket Science: How Rockets Work

Warm-Up Questions CPS Questions (1-2) Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Chapter Overview It Is Rocket Science: How Rockets Work Propulsion and Launch Vehicles Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Lesson Overview The history and principles of rocket science Different types of rockets The propulsion and flight of rockets Chapter 11, Lesson 1

(Note to teacher: Use “Pick a Student” button in CPS) Quick Write Can you identify any modern “toy” which may be as underappreciated as Hero’s steam engine was in the first century? What do you imagine its use could be in the future? (Note to teacher: Use “Pick a Student” button in CPS) Chapter 11, Lesson 1

The History and Principles of Rocket Science Thrust - the power produced by a rocket engine Mass is matter that is shot out of the engine Thrust = mass of the gases shot out of the engine x those gases acceleration Acceleration is a change in motion Courtesy of NASA/Sandra Joseph and Kevin O’Connel Chapter 11, Lesson 1

How Action and Reaction Apply to Rockets Action is the thrust produced as the hot exhaust gas accelerates out the rocket’s nozzle Rocket’s ascent is the reaction to the action of thrust The exhaust goes one way, and the rocket goes the other Chapter 11, Lesson 1

The Importance of Thrust for Rocket Flight Magnitude - an amount, size, speed, or degree that can be measured Rocket thrust depends on three factors: The rate at which the mass flows through the engine The velocity with which the exhaust gas flows The pressure the exhaust gases encounter as they leave the nozzle Chapter 11, Lesson 1

The Importance of Thrust for Rocket Flight, cont. Nozzle – a rocket’s end that releases gas, smoke and flame to produce thrust Chapter 11, Lesson 1 Courtesy of NASA

Air Rockets Simplest type of rocket Uses compressed air to thrust the rocket into the air Air is its “working fluid” Adapted from NASA [http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/rktstomp.html]. Accessed 10 March 2010 Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Bottle Rockets Rocket’s weight varies because of the exhausting water plume Uses water as its working fluid and pressurized air to accelerate the working fluid Because water is heavier than air, bottle rockets generate more thrust than air rockets Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Bottle Rockets, cont. Chapter 11, Lesson 1 Adapted from NASA [http://exploration.grc..nasa.gov/education/Bottle Rocket/Rocket_Parts_Comparison.html]. Accessed 15 March 2010 Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Model Rockets Use small, pre-packaged solid-fuel engines Engine fits in the base of the rocket or body tube Thrust of the engine transmitted to the body of the rocket through the engine mount Adapted from NASA [http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/rocket/rktparts.html]. Accessed 15 March 2010 Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Full-Scale Boosters Structural system refers to the frame Missions determine the payload system Guidance system controls a rocket’s flight Propulsion systems come in two classes: liquid rocket engines and solid rocket motors Chapter 11, Lesson 1 Courtesy of Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters

The Propulsion and Flight of Rockets Both solid and liquid propellants are a mix of fuel and oxidizer Made by mixing and then packing fuel and oxidizer together into the rocket’s body Fuel is ignited from the top and burns along the entire length of a central shaft Chapter 11, Lesson 1 Courtesy of Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters

How Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines Work Oxidizer is liquid oxygen, a form of pure oxygen cooled to -297.3 degrees F Store the two ingredients in separate tanks until it’s time for launch One advantage is it can be started, stopped, and started again later Chapter 11, Lesson 1 Courtesy of Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters

Learning Check CPS Questions (3-4) Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Activity 1: Rocket Science Matching Review terms in the lesson by matching the term with its definition or explanation Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Activity 2: Rocket Science “Professors” As a group, prepare to teach the class about your assigned rocket. You get to be a rocket science professor for a day! Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Activity 3: Newton and Rocket Science Remember Newton and his Three Laws of Motion? Complete this worksheet by defining each law and describing how his laws apply to rocket science and spacecraft travel. Be sure to use complete sentences. Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Technology Enrichment: Build a Jeopardy Game Teams will review lesson material by using an online template to build and host a Jeopardy game for the other team Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Review For spaceflight purposes, a rocket designer actually is asking one basic question: How much force must be applied to a mass to accelerate that mass to speeds that will allow it to reach space and fall back to Earth, put it into orbit, or have it leave Earth’s orbit completely? There are different types of rockets that follow the same principles of rocket science even though they operate differently Because a rocket carries its own oxidizer, it can travel in space unlike a jet engine because it must draw air in to burn fuel Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Review Questions CPS Questions (5-6) Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Summary The history and principles of rocket science Different types of rockets The propulsion and flight of rockets Chapter 11, Lesson 1

Next… Done – It Is Rocket Science: How Rockets Work Next – Propulsion and Launch Vehicles Chapter 11, Lesson 1 Courtesy of NASA Stennis Space Center