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KS3 solving Rocket Science Problems

KS3 solving Rocket Science Problems
February 22, 2016 hdhsadmin

“Boldly going where no-one has gone before, the KS3 STEM group met together on the 9th February to solve some key rocket science problems. How do we get a rocket up? How do we slow its decent on the way down? (most importantly) How do we protect a raw egg from going SPLAT?! All of these key skills will be of vital importance when we enter the UKAYROC rocket challenge to send a rocket 250 meters (850 feet) up with a payload of two raw eggs to bring down uncracked.

The day started with a BANG as the students competed against each other to create the most aerodynamic bottle rocket possible. Initially with compressed air and water the winning team managed an impressive 12.65 meters off the ground, which they nudged up to 13.2 meters with some help from vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.

We then went on to work on reducing the SPLAT, with each team working to drop their capsule the fastest, while protecting a raw egg from falling both 4 meters and (after some improvements) 10 meters. With an impressive range of designs the winning team managed to safely land their egg 10 meters in a speedy 5.1 seconds.

The day moved swiftly on with a range of ideas on how to slow the decent of a cream egg with a range of parachute ideas. The day ended with a WHOOSH with a small scale kit rocket being launched sky high.”

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