1. Principles of Rocketry Gareth White School of Operations and Information Management UWE Business School

2. Content What makes a “good” rocket. Main principles: –Centre of gravity –Centre of pressure –Stability

3. A “Good” Rocket Launch Powered flight Coasting flight Apogee Parachute decent “Gentle” landing

4. A “Bad” Rocket It can go wrong in so many ways…..

5. Key Principles Centre of Gravity - CofG The point at which the rocket balances.

6. Key Principles Centre of Pressure - CofP The point at which a silhouette of the rocket balances. Just like a weathervane

7. Key Principles Stability A stable rocket is one where the CofG is at least 1 calibre in front of the CofP. The diameter of the rocket body = 1 calibre

8. Summary Understand the terms, Centre of Gravity (CofG) Centre of Pressure (CofP) Calibre Know that stability is achieved when CofG precedes CofP by more than 1 calibre. References & Further Reading –Stine (2004), “Handbook of Model Rocketry” –Van Milligan (1995), “Model Rocket Design & Construction”