| Are you looking for some topics to present that can | | | | 3. The scientific value is awesome. Each launch |
| addexcitement to your science classroom? Rocketry | | | | simulationgenerates a mountain of useful data. |
| and spaceexploration, like no other subject, have a | | | | Analyzing this data isa fantastic way to teach the |
| way to captivatestudents that makes it easy for them | | | | scientific method. |
| to learn science. Theyare having so much fun, that | | | | 4. Students love software because it is fun! It has |
| they don't even realize theyare learning basic science | | | | featureslike a video game, so the students may not |
| concepts. | | | | realize how muchthey are learning at the same time. |
| To leverage the benefits of this area of study, you | | | | 5. The RockSim software is the same tool that is used |
| can useyour school's computer to explore a lot of | | | | byreal rocketry professionals - like NASA, |
| different sciencetopics. For more details In the January | | | | militarycontractors, and universities. So you can feel |
| 2005 issue of the education magazine, | | | | confident inthe results you get back from the program. |
| "Tech Directions", there isan article by Spencer C. | | | | 6. The software allows students to explore their |
| Wilson of J.R. Fugett Middle Schoolin West Chester. In | | | | creativity. |
| it, he describes how he uses a rocketdesign software, | | | | They can design vastly different looking models, |
| called RockSim toshow students the process of | | | | whilelearning engineering skills, assembly steps, and |
| engineering design. | | | | physics. |
| In this article, I'd like to give you some other ideas | | | | Here are just some of the many topics you can |
| onhow to use the model rocket design software to | | | | explore with |
| demonstrateother basic science concepts. Here are | | | | RockSim: |
| some benefits tousing RockSim software: | | | | 1. Aerodynamics and drag reduction. |
| 1. Allows the student to simulate hundreds of rocket | | | | 2. Forces of flight: Lift, Drag, Thrust, and Gravity. |
| flightsvery quickly -- this saves lots of money! Just | | | | 3. Projectile motion. |
| think of thetime saved too. For more details You don't | | | | 4. Rocket propulsion as used for space travel. |
| have to spend hundreds of dollarbuying motors and | | | | 5. Atmospheric studies: how does temperature and |
| hours-and-hours of time building differentconfigurations, | | | | pressureaffect performance? |
| launching, recovering, and repacking rocketsto test one | | | | 6. Planetary differences: how does the same rocket |
| control feature. | | | | performon different planets in our solar system. |
| 2. Safety. When you go out to fly rockets, knowing | | | | 7. Dynamics and harmonic motion with damping. |
| howthey'll behave is an important aspect of safety. | | | | 8. Engineering - how parts fit together. |
| Precautionscan be made. By running the simulations, | | | | 9. Newton's Laws of motion. |
| the students learnwhat concepts contribute to keeping | | | | 10. Artistic expression |
| the actual launch safe. | | | | |