Download “Ballistic Build” - Straw Rocket Lab Student Objective – Students will

“Ballistic Build” - Straw Rocket Lab
Student Objective –
1. Students will follow instructions to assemble a straw launcher.
2. Investigate the effect of different known masses on straw flight and calculate force using
measurement and algebraic formula
3. Successfully hit a target using straw launcher referencing data collected during objective 2
Procedure for Objective 1 (Day 1)
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Students will be given materials to assemble straw rocket launcher according to instructions in a
specified amount of time
Assessment will be on based correctness of assembly (pass/fail)
Procedure for Objective 2
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(Day 1) Teacher will demonstrate use of straw launcher (pulling plunger to a marked height,
placing straw on apparatus and dropping plunger) student volunteer will time with stopwatch
time elapsed for launch
Teacher with student volunteer will measure distance from launcher to straw landing
Teacher with students will fill in collected data onto data table on provided worksheet
Teacher will demonstrate math component to find initial velocity
X =Voxt , Y= -gt2/2 + Voyt
-Vox = the initial velocity in the x direction
-Voy = the initial velocity in the y direction
- g = gravitational constant 9.88 m/s2
- t = the time elapsed
With x and y initial velocity use Pythagorean theorem to find derivative (hypotenuse)
Students will then continue with 2 more trials then finding average
Students will move on adding known masses to trials and find velocity for each
Procedure for Objective (Day 2/3)
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Students will be given a distance – individually they need to use data collected from previous
day to come up with a hypothesis about what mass will be necessary to hit target distance.
Students will individually test hypothesis by launching in front of class to hit their specific
distance target
If correct ,they then complete formula for full credit
If target is missed, student loses 10 points and must hypothesize again. Student must then
return to back of line and wait to retest
Name: ______________________________________ Date: ______________________ Period: _______
Ballistic Building – Straw Missile
Background Knowledge - Ballistics ("throw") is the science of mechanics that deals with the launching,
flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles. In physics, the ballistic trajectory of a projectile is the path
that a thrown or launched projectile will take under the action of gravity, neglecting all other forces,
such as friction from air resistance.
Objective – Investigate Ballistic trajectory with the use of a straw missile launcher by measuring distance
of missile flight, elapsed time, then using that data, along with angle of launch to calculate velocity and
force.
Procedure – (After correctly assembling the launcher and straw rocket)
To launch: pull the plunger up to measured line place straw on apparatus and drop plunger.
Measure time with stopwatch, Measure distance from the launcher and record on data table below.
Added
Launch
Trial
Angle
Distance
Time
Velocity
Force
Mass
height
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
Using the collected data to find the Velocity, then with velocity and mass you can identify force
Finding velocity
Finding Velocity: V=d/t
X =Voxt , Y= -gt2/2 + Voyt
-Vox = the initial velocity in the x direction
-Voy = the initial velocity in the y direction
- g = gravitational constant 9.88 m/s2
- t = the time elapsed
With x and y initial velocity use Pythagorean Theorem to find derivative (hypotenuse)
Finding Force: F=MA