Lesson Plan: Water Bottle Rocket Design

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Human beings can now engage in hands-on learning experiences by creating and launching water bottle rockets. With the aid of computer-aided design software and 3D printing modules, these projectiles can be customized and tailored to specific lesson plans. The basic principles of physics come alive as students construct and launch their own water bottle rockets from scratch or use pre-made models as inspiration for their creations. The lesson plan offers a perfect opportunity for students to grasp the fundamental concepts of forces, including lift, drag, weight, thrust, and aerodynamics. By launching water bottle rockets with different wing designs, students can observe firsthand how various forces impact the trajectory of these projectiles. The lesson involves designing and assembling two types of water bottle rockets: one with a straight wing and another with a curved wing. To minimize variability between the two rocket models, students will use the provided nose cone for each design. Additionally, they will create a third rocket that combines elements of both wing designs to observe how different configurations affect the flight trajectory. For classes equipped with CAD software, students can individually design their own wing model, which can then be printed multiple times to create unique water bottle rockets. The shape and weight of the nose cone also play a significant role in determining the trajectory of the rocket, as they are influenced by aerodynamic forces. An optional experiment involves designing different types of nose cones or altering the infill percentage to test how various weights impact flight patterns. For example, students can print three versions of the nose cone with 10%, 50%, and 100% infill and pair them with standard wings for a controlled comparison. As an added challenge, students are encouraged to create their own custom nose cones to observe the effects of different designs on the rocket's flight path.