Rocket trajectory lab

 

            Aim: To launch and analyze the motion of a rocket

Materials: Air powered rocket with launch pad, stopwatch, foot pump, protractor, and tape measure

Procedure: 1) The rocket was bolted onto the launch pad and attached to the pump.

2) The pump was pumped until it reached its max psi, at which point it was propelled into the air.

3) The flight time and horizontal distance were recorded.

Data:

	Initial velocity	Final Velocity	Acceleration	Time	Distance
Vertical	61.1 m/s	0 m/s	-9.8 m/s^2	6.23 s	190.2 m
Horizontal	3.37 m/s	NA	0 m/s^2	6.23 s	21.02 m

Vf = Vi+at
0 = Vi+(-9.8)(6.23)
Vi = (9.80)(6.23)
Vi = 61.054 m/s

Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2ad
d = (Vf^2 – Vi^2)/2a
d = -(61.054^2)/19.6
d = 190.2 m

Vh = d/t
Vh = 21/6.23
Vh = 3.37 m/s

V^2 = Vv^2 + Vh^2
V^2 = 61.054^2 + 3.37^2
V = 61.15 m/s

Analysis:1) My results are not exactly accurate because of rounding and other human errors.

2) Factors such as the wind and rain change day-to-day. Other factors such as gravity and air resistance do not change every day.

Conclusion: It was concluded that a rocket with a steep launch angle will have a much greater vertical velocity than horizontal                                                                                        velocity. Also the vertical distance is much greater than the horizontal distance.