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- waterrocketluketan kinematics special lesson.docx
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Credits

Author: luke tan video, model lookang
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Document Brief: Title: "Water Rocket Dynamics Model: A Tracker Analysis by Anglican High's Luke Tan"

This document examines the physics of water rocket motion through the lens of Tracker software. It focuses on the interplay between thrust, drag, gravity, and momentum, offering insights into the principles governing the launch, ascent, and descent of water rockets.

Study Guide:

Objective:

• Analyze the dynamics of a water rocket's motion, identifying the forces at play.

• Use Tracker to model velocity, acceleration, and altitude during the rocket's flight.

Key Concepts:

1. Thrust Generation:

   • Water and air expelled from the rocket produce upward thrust due to Newton's Third Law.

2. Forces Acting on the Rocket:

   • Thrust: Propels the rocket upward.

   • Gravity: Pulls the rocket downward.

   • Drag: Resists motion through the air.

3. Phases of Motion:

   • Launch: Thrust dominates.

   • Coasting: After water is expelled, gravity and drag decelerate the rocket.

   • Descent: Drag and gravity control motion as the rocket falls.

4. Energy Transformation:

   • Potential and kinetic energy interplay during the ascent and descent.

Experiment Setup:

• Materials:

  • A water rocket with a pressurized chamber.

  • Launchpad and pump for pressurization.

  • High-speed camera for capturing motion.

  • Tracker software for video analysis.

• Procedure:

  1. Fill the rocket with a specified water volume.

  2. Pressurize the rocket using the pump.

  3. Launch the rocket and record the motion.

  4. Import the video into Tracker.

  5. Analyze velocity, acceleration, and altitude over time.

Expected Observations:

• A rapid increase in velocity during thrust phase.

• Gradual deceleration during coasting phase.

• Symmetrical velocity curve for ascent and descent phases.

Questions to Consider:

1. How does water volume affect the rocket's flight?

   • Answer: Too little or too much water reduces the thrust efficiency; optimal water volume balances mass and propulsion.

2. What role does air pressure play in the launch?

   • Answer: Higher air pressure increases thrust but may cause structural stress on the rocket.

3. How does drag influence the rocket's motion?

   • Answer: Drag reduces velocity, especially during ascent and descent phases.

4. What energy transformations occur during flight?

   • Answer: Chemical potential energy (compressed air) converts to kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy, then back to kinetic energy during descent.

5. Can this model predict real rocket dynamics?

   • Answer: It simplifies some aspects (e.g., ignores wind and turbulence) but provides foundational insights into thrust-based motion.

Video

 Newton's Third Law - Water Rocket Experiment by ETDtogo 

Model

Reference:

http://weelookang.blogspot.sg/2017/01/nature-of-science-tracker-water-rocket.html

Kinematics missing resources in OPAL now completed!

FAQ:

1. Why use water rockets for this study?

   • Water rockets are a safe, accessible, and effective way to demonstrate principles of thrust and projectile motion.

2. How accurate is Tracker for this analysis?

   • Tracker provides high precision for position, velocity, and acceleration data, making it ideal for studying dynamic systems.

3. What adjustments can improve rocket performance?

   • Optimize water-to-air ratio, streamline the rocket design, and ensure stable launching conditions.

4. How does gravity impact the rocket?

   • Gravity constantly pulls the rocket down, influencing its maximum height and descent speed.

5. Can this model be extended?

   • Yes, by adding fins for stability, testing different nozzle sizes, or analyzing wind effects.