SEDS Forums

Our chapter did an outreach event where we helped children make paper rockets and launch them with a special launcher using compressed air. It was great fun, the kids loved it, and it only cost the paper and sellotape, as we borrowed the launcher from the university engineering department. Has anyone else done stuff like this, with paper rockets or water rockets? What's the best way of doing it to get kids interested in space?

Also, we went to the East Anglia Rocketry Society (http://www.ears.org.uk) and I bought a small rocket with a C motor for £22, and we built it there and launched it straight away, which was really fun. Has anyone else done stuff like this before? What would you recommend I try next? I can't afford to spend loads on expensive rocket gear, but it was a lot of fun, and that one was quite cheap.

From the SEDSWiki -

Learning Resources - http://wiki.seds.org/index.php/Learning_Resources
http://www.rocketryplanet.com/ - that has a lot of How-Tos, forums etc.

I guess there was a website about UK Rocketeers. I'm still reading a lot of those and trying to even get my hands on any rocket here in India, but looks like I might have to make one myself.

Let's hope the above one helps you. Also there is a SEDS ML for rockets - http://www.seds.org/mailman/list-info/rockets

Pradeep
SEDS-India

Hello there . I have been involved in making a number of water rockets . Trust me when i say that watching it take off is an amazing feeling and an easy way to get people hooked .
You could probably try making multistage rockets , or rockets carrying a payload ( say an EGG ) which will need a payload release mechanism as well as a soft landing mechanism ( like parachutes or parafoils ) . Now the articles requiered to make these rockets are easy to find and are not expensive .
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pagrosse/h2oRocketIndex.htm is a neat portal if you are a beginner

Cesy -

I've done all three varieties of demos (air, water, and powder motors) and have nothing but praise for their ability to demonstrate physics and flight principles, while inspiring students to get involved in space. While looking at pictures and hearing about the latest NASA probe is all well and fine, nothing inspires a student like building their own rocket with their hands and pressing the button to personally send it soaring into the air.

As to if there is a 'perfect' one to use, I'd recommend breaking it up by age level. The lower the age level, the more inspirational the 'simple' air and water rockets will be.

Example:

K-3rd grade: Air rockets.
Reasoning: Simple enough that the students can do it relatively safely in their class room, without any special equipment and just their teacher. Yet still lots of fun, especially if geared as a 'contest' where the students fly their air rockets against one another.

4th-8th grade: Water rockets.
Reasoning: Requires slightly more technical equipment (air compressor, launch pad) and is more hazardous, requiring more responsibility out of the teachers and students. Also water rockets make a great demonstration when linked with the students learning about the laws of motion and inertia. Have the students make and test hypothesis about the ideal amount of water/air to get the highest flight etc...

6th-12th grade: ESTES (or other brand) solid motor rockets
Reasoning: Older students expect (and should usually) to be given more responsibility than their younger counterparts, so while I've seen solid motor rockets done at lower age levels, the 6th to 12th grade age bracket is ideal. The students are more responsible (on average) but still need supervision especially during setup/launch.

Also the older the students are, the more 'childish' they will see the air and water rocket experiments. There are exceptions of course, but on average the 6th-12th grade students will get the most out of the solid motor rockets.