Rocket History
Explosive powder
What were the first rockets made by the Chinese in the first century AD filled with?
Konstatin Tsiolkovsky
Who is known as the "Father of Space Travel"?
Sir Isaac Newton
Who is known for the three laws of motion that help explain how rockets work?
I will use only this type of parts for the nose, body, and fins of my rocket to keep it lightweight.
What are non-metal parts?
This device is used to track the altitude of a model rocket during flight.
What is the Altitude Tracker?
1232
In which year did the Chinese use rockets to fight the Mongols?
Hermann Oberth
Which scientist wrote about rockets and space travel in the 1920s?
An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
What does Newton's First Law of Motion state about objects at rest or in motion?
This safety feature must be included in the electrical launch system to prevent accidental launches.
What is a safety interlock?
When determining altitude, the distance from the observer to the launch pad is called this.
What is the baseline distance?
Colonel William Congreve
Who was the British officer that improved rockets with guide sticks in the early 1800s?
Dr. Robert Goddard
Who launched the first successful liquid-fuel rocket in 1926?
Force equals mass times acceleration.
In Newton's Second Law of Motion, what does the formula f=m×a represent?
If my rocket does not launch, I must wait this long after the last launch attempt before approaching it.
What is 60 seconds?
The Altitude Tracker is aimed at the rocket when it reaches this point in its flight.
What is apogee?
The Star-Spangled Banner
What famous American song was inspired by rockets during the War of 1812?
Dr. Werner von Braun
Who helped develop the V-2 missile during World War II?
The rocket moves in the opposite direction of the expelled gas.
What happens to a rocket when it expels gas from its engine according to Newton's Third Law?
I will launch my rocket from a device that points within this angle of vertical to ensure it flies straight up.
What is 30 degrees?
To record the angle at apogee, the observer must pull this device on the Altitude Tracker.
What is the trigger?
The War of 1812
During which war did rockets first see large-scale use by the British against U.S. troops?
This man proved that liquid fuel rockets could be controlled.
What did Robert Goddard prove about liquid-fuel rockets?
This helps keep the rocket stable during flight.
Why is it important for a rocket to have its center of gravity toward the nose and center of pressure toward the tail?
My model rocket cannot weigh more than this amount at liftoff.
What is 1500 grams (53 ounces)?
To calculate altitude, you multiply the baseline distance by this value obtained from the Angle Tangent Chart.
What is the angle tangent?