Blast Off
A Tanmay and Jake Experiment
Problem:
We would like to find out the accuracy using a foam rocket, by aiming to get the foam rocket into a bucket at certain distances.
Research:
We have found that foam rockets can shoot up to distances of thirty feet. We know that our rocket is 120 centimeters cubed, and the bucket that we are shooting into has a volume of 17,710 centimeters cubed. This means that it is 148 times smaller than the bucket.
Hypothesis:
If you shoot a rocket from 0 to 20 feet, then you will be able to make it in the bucket with out missing by more than 45cm.
Materials:
- One bucket (preferably 35cm wide, 22 cm long, and 23 cm tall)
- One foam rocket
- A long empty space (indoors (30 feet long)
- A person who can shoot a foam rocket
Procedures:
- Place your bucket at the end of a long hall.
- Create a data table with four trials, and 5, 10, 20, 30, and average distance away options.
- Mark zones of 5, 10, 20, and 30 feet.
- Stand at 5 feet away and try to shoot the foam rocket into the bucket.
- Record Data (If misses write distance away)
- Repeat #4 and 5 with all of the distances.
- After this, find the distance away you were from the bucket. of times that you made the rocket in from each distance.
Data and Calculations:
:::::::::::::::5 feet :10 feet :20 feet :30 feet
Trial 1 ::::Yes :::::Yes ::::::85cm :::90cm
Trial 2 ::::Yes :::::Yes ::::::23cm :::33cm
Trial 3 ::::10cm ::14cm :::Yes ::::::93cm
Average*:3.3cm:4.6cm:::36cm::::72cm
(Average is average away)
Conclusion:
We now know that when shooting a rocket from different distances, you shall have your rocket land further away when you are further from the target. Our hypothesis was wrong, because we had 85 cm away when at 20 feet from the target. We support this by our results, showing in our averages that the further away you are from a target the further it shall probably be from the target. We believe this, because when you shoot mass over a longer distance it will be pulled down by gravity.