| Newton's three laws of motion are so integral to | | | | weight. |
| everything around us that many people take | | | | Anytime the speed of an object changes, the |
| them for granted. Young children achieve a basic | | | | object accelerates. If the object moves at a |
| understanding of these laws as they interact with | | | | greater speed, this is known as positive |
| the world around them, but older children, | | | | acceleration. If the object moves at a lesser |
| teenagers, and even adults can achieve a deeper | | | | speed, this is known as negative acceleration (or |
| understanding and an appreciation for these laws | | | | deceleration). |
| through model rocket kits. This article explains | | | | All of these forces can be seen in the motion of |
| how a school project using Estes model rockets | | | | Estes rockets. Prior to the rocket's launch, the |
| can be used to teach Newton's second law of | | | | rocket will be in a static situation where the |
| motion. | | | | forces are balanced. When the fuse is lit, the fuel |
| Newton's second law of motion states that force | | | | will burn and will produce force that propels the |
| is equal to mass times acceleration. These may | | | | rocket upward. |
| sound like scary "physics" words, but do not let | | | | The rocket's mass can be measured prior to a |
| that overwhelm you. Let's apply these terms to | | | | launch. Estes model rockets with more or less |
| rocket kits. | | | | mass will react differently to equal amounts of |
| Force is a power or energy exerted on an object. | | | | force and acceleration. |
| When that force is exerted, the object will exert | | | | The rate at which the speed of a rocket |
| a force of its own in return. With perfectly | | | | increases (or decreases) is the rocket's |
| balanced forces, nothing in the situation will move. | | | | acceleration. Different engines and differing |
| This is known as a static situation. Imagine pushing | | | | amounts of fuel can be used create differing |
| your hand against a brick wall. When your hand | | | | amounts of acceleration. Model rocket kits provide |
| exerts a force on that brick wall, the wall | | | | a great illustration of different amounts of |
| "pushes" back with an equal force, and nothing | | | | acceleration. |
| moves at all. This situation is examined in | | | | The effect of force, mass, and acceleration on |
| Newton's third law. | | | | the path of a rocket can be varied with different |
| However, in a dynamic situation, the forces are | | | | types of Estes model rockets, different types of |
| unbalanced. This means that the force exerted on | | | | engines in the rockets, and differing amounts of |
| an object and the force returned by the object | | | | fuel. These "experiments" can be repeated to |
| are not equal. Because these forces are not equal, | | | | analyze the effects of more or less force, mass, |
| the object will move. Model rocket kits offer a | | | | or acceleration. |
| great way to demonstrate this law. | | | | Model rockets are an entertaining way to gain a |
| Mass is the scientific term for all the "stuff" that | | | | deeper understanding of Newton's laws of motion. |
| makes up an object and is measured in grams. | | | | Rather than being a difficult or boring experiment |
| On the surface of Earth, mass and weight are | | | | in a lab, model rockets encourage a student's |
| generally treated the same way. However, | | | | sense of adventure. Experimenting with model |
| outside of Earth's gravity, an object will have the | | | | rockets provides an entertaining forum to analyze |
| same mass but will clearly have a different | | | | these ideas! |