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A Safety Officer readies a rocket for launch.
Annette Barajas | Copper Basin News
Kearny – Last Thursday, March 12, some of the science students of Ray Junior High, gathered together for a rocket launch which theCopper Basin Newsattended.
In preparation for the launch, the students had been studying several related topics, including the transfer of energy and how this affects the physical and chemical properties of Matter. There were many types of energy: chemical, heat and mechanical, to name a few.
Using an inclinometer, the students measured the angle of the rockets at a given distance from the launch pads. Students also timed how long it took the rockets to travel to the height achieved. Later, they will use trigonometry to calculate the height achieved by the rockets and physics to determine how fast the rockets traveled, or the “velocity” of the rocket during the rocket motor burn. Velocity is equal to the distance over time which will be calculated in feet and then converted to miles per hour.
It is not unusual for the rockets to travel at speeds from 300 to 500 miles per hour. Safety Officers, SOs, were assigned for the launch, SOs are responsible for the safe arming and launching of the rockets. Sydney Contreras and Deseray Godoy were the SOs during theCopper Basin’svisit and they successfully armed and assisted in all of the launches.
Also studied were lessons in “flight” and what causes flight, students learned about lift, drag, gravity, and thrust and how they determine flight. Students were then supervised in the construction of the rockets, with the goal to have 100% success in rocket building, which was achieved. Every Junior High Student was successful in building and flying their individual rockets, with over 280 launches that took place over the course of the days allotted for launch. There were two launch pads, which were constantly busy with rocket launches.
Several parents attended the rocket launch, as did many primary school children with their teachers, and a few high school classes. Those who attended the rocket launch were very surprised as to the actual dynamics of the rockets, many saying “ Wow..I did not realize they would go that high and that fast…!”
Before the students made rockets, they were required to build a hot air balloon, which involved “Atmospheric Sciences.” The “Balloon launch and flight” proved to be unsuccessful, mostly due to design, but, still made for a great transition into “Rocketry.” Students were shown information about NASA and early space exploration, the “space race”, Sputnik, and the first 7 Astronauts selected for the space program and the Mercury space missions.
Overall, students and concerned staff of Ray Junior High seemed to feel that this was a great science unit, that kept the students engaged.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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