7-step lesson plan

aerospace engineering  week 5 lesson plan

I.

Identification

  • Module: Aerospace Engineering
  • Lesson Title: Fundamentals of rocket flight
  • Duration: Five hours
  • Author: John R. Hull
  • Date: Feb 1, 2001
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II.

Academic Content Standards

    • CA Physics 1,2,3,4,5
    • CA Chemistry 3,4,8,11
    • CA Algebra I 1,2,4,6,9-18,20,22
    • CA Algebra II 2-4,6-8,11,12
    • CA Geometry 12,17-19,21,22
    • CA Engineering Technology 2-6
    • CA Drafting Technology 1
    • CA Language Arts Reading 1,2; Oral 1; Listening/Speaking 1
    • SCANS 1-8

III.

Preparation

  • Prerequisites, facilities, materials, equipment, web sites
  • Materials for rocket construction (varies from simple paper rockets to live rocket model kits and flights)
  • October Sky is a inspirational movie about rocket scientist.  Consider NASA videos and movie shorts about the beginning of the Space age.  The Right Stuff has some sewmi-historical scenes about early rocket program successes and failures.
IV.

Lesson Objectives

  • Be able to solve problems in one-dimensional projectile motion and be familiar with what it takes to model and solve two- and three-dimensional motion problems
  • Be familiar with how the launch vehicle orbits its payload
  • Understand physics of rocket flight 
  • Flow chart and document an algorithm for prediction of model rocket altitude. Use a excel spreadsheet to collate data and draw a simple graph of altitude versus time
  • Build model rockets (simple to complex) and launch them to measure performance
  • (Alternative for advanced students) Design a computer program to predict performance of real model rocket launches.
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V.

Delivery (Teaching Strategies)

  • PowerPoint Presentation on rockets and how they fly
  • Mathematics and physics problems set to solve simple thust, weight, acceleration, escape velocity and trajectory problems
  • Construction, operation and safety issues on rocket launching
VI.

Guided Practice

  • Options depend on time and affordability.  The lesson is to build and launch rockets, using calculations to predict performance and measure success
  • Build paper rockets and test them for stability.  Launch them with air pressure. (Plans for a launcher under investigation)
  • Construct water-powered rockets and launchers. (Plans for a launcher under investigation)
  • Construct and launch live model rockets.  A logistical challenge. (this activity may need to be extra curriculer)
VII.

Evaluation

  • Problem sets
  • Computer programs
  • Laboratory results