1. It Is Rocket Science: How Rockets Work

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

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

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

5. (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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Air Rockets Simplest type of rocket
Uses compressed air to thrust the rocket into the air
Air is its “working fluid”
Adapted from NASA [ Accessed 10 March 2010
Chapter 11, Lesson 1

11. 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

12. Bottle Rockets, cont. Chapter 11, Lesson 1
Adapted from NASA [ Rocket/Rocket_Parts_Comparison.html]. Accessed 15 March 2010
Chapter 11, Lesson 1

13. 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 [ Accessed 15 March 2010
Chapter 11, Lesson 1

14. 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

15. 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

16. How Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines Work
Oxidizer is liquid oxygen, a form of pure oxygen cooled to 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

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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

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

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

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