Two-Stage Rocket Lab

The Following Information is Provided to the Student

Question: How do you describe the motion of a two-stage rocket?

Purpose: To conduct a complete conceptual and mathematical analysis of the motion of two-stage rocket including slope and area calculations for the various stages and the no-fuel stage.

A complete lab write-up includes a Title, a Purpose, a Data section, and a Conclusion/Discussion. The Data section should include a velocity-time graph; strategic coordinates (at the end/beginning of stages, the peak of the trajectory and at the instant it explodes) should be listed on the graph. Coordinate values are used to calculate the slope and areas; work is shown and organized; units are listed. Results of calculations are summarized in the provided table. The Conclusion/Discussion should include a summary of your analysis and a response to the provided post-lab questions.

Scoring Ruberic

K8.	Two-Stage Rocket Lab	Score
_____	Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report.	_____ / _____
_____	Data section includes velocity-time graph for the given motion; strategic coordinates (at the end of fuel stages; at the peak, explosion time) are shown on the graph. Slopes and areas are accurately calculated; work is labeled and clearly shown for each calculation; work is organized; units are stated. Results of calculations are accurately summarized in table form.
_____	Conclusion/Discussion uses words to summarize the analysis; responses to post-lab questions are accurate, thorough and clear.

Materials Required

A page from Interactives: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/interactive/1d-kinematics/two-stage-rocket/launch

Description of Procedure

Students log on to the above page and first acquire the coordinates of strategic locations during the rocket's trajectory. Then students conduct slope and area calculations in an effort to make the connection between slope and acceleration and area and displacement for a velocity-time graph. The information in the auxiliary materials section (below) should be sufficient to guide students through the activity.

Alternative Materials and Procedure

A more thorough approach to this lab is provided at: Physics Simulation: Two-Stage Rocket - Student Activity

The alternative exercise is a guided exercise with an extensive procedure.

Safety Concerns

There is always a higher than usual level of risk associated with working in a science lab. Teachers should be aware of this and take the necessary precautions to insure that working environment is as safe as possible. Student horseplay (especially the use of meter sticks as swords) and off-task behaviors should not be tolerated.

Suggestions, Precautions, Notes

There are six possible sets of accelerations and time periods for the two stage rocket. Students receive one of the six sets of data. Not all students will have the same data.

Links

Connections to The Physics Classroom Tutorial:
The following readings are a suitable accompaniment to this lab:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/u1l3c.cfm
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/u1l4d.cfm
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/u1l4e.cfm

Connections to Minds on Physics Internet Modules:
Sublevel 8 of the Kinematic Graphing module is a suitable accompaniment to this lab:
Minds on Physics: Kinematic Concepts - Position-Time and Velocity-Time Tables