4th Grade Straw Rockets & Space Shuttle Challenge Pix

 4th Grade continues flight tests with their straw rockets.  Recently we learned about velocity (how long {range}a flight is and how much time it takes to make the flight) and which launch angle produced the greatest velocity.  We tested 6 different launch angles:  15, 30, 45, 60,75, and 90 degrees.  We found 15%

and 30% produced the greatest velocities in our classes, although we discussed other classes previously finding 45% as most effective.  In conclusion we determined that since the force to push the rocket out of the launcher was the same for all angles, gravity affected our flights as we flew closer to vertical.  More of the available effort from the launcher is used to move our rocket skyward and less force available to move it a longer distance.

This week we were thinking like a NASA engineer!  We designed and built a spacecraft with a shock absorber that would protect astronauts (marshmallows) as they landed.  Our materials included cardboard, paper cup, index cards, 2 big marshmallows, 10 small marshmallows, rubber bands, and plastic straws.  Using the same amount of supplies, we dropped our prototype 1 foot to see if our astronauts landed safely.  If they did, we tested our design at higher altitudes: 2 & 3 feet.  If our test was not successful, we went back to the drawing board to redesign and retest.  We followed up with a discussion of latest Mars rover Curiosity and took a closer look at the landing techniques used for this one ton rover.  It was interesting for us  to note that the atmosphere of Mars and space in general is different of that of the Earth, so different techniques must be used when designing spacecraft.  See the rest of our pictures of the space shuttle challenge!