ROCKET CAR PROPULSION PHYSICS
FOLLOW ALONG
PRINTED NOTES
HOW FAST IS MY CAR GOING TO GO?
How do you answer this question?
WHAT DO WE WANT TO KNOW?
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE HAVE?
WHAT DO WE WANT TO KNOW?
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE HAVE?
______________ MPH (SPEED)
Length of the race track : 3 meters
Weight of the car : 140 grams
Weight of the CO2 can. : 70 grams
Pressure inside the canister : 850 psi
WHAT DO WE WANT TO KNOW?
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE HAVE?
______________ MPH (SPEED)
Length of the race track : 3 meters
Weight of the car : 140 grams
Weight of the CO2 can. : 70 grams
Pressure inside the canister : 850 psi
F = MA
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
850psi = lbs / in²
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
850psi = lbs / in²
850psi x in² = lbs
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
850psi = lbs / in²
850psi x in² = lbs (thrust)
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
850psi = lbs / in²
850psi x in² = lbs (thrust)
in² = surface area of the
hole that we will puncture
area = π r²
area = π r²
area = (3.14) x .05"²
area = π r²
area = (3.14) x .05"²
area = .00785 in²
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
850psi = lbs / in²
850psi x .00785 in² = lbs (thrust)
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
850psi = lbs / in²
850psi x .00785 in² = lbs (thrust)
6.6725 = lbs (thrust)
PRESSURE INSIDE IS FORCE
PSI = pounds per square inch
850psi = lbs / in²
850psi x .00785 in² = lbs (thrust)
6.6725 = lbs (thrust)
29.68 = N (thrust)
Force = Mass x Acceleration
29.68 N = 210 grams x Acceleration
Acceleration (m/s²) = 2.968 N / 210 grams
Sir
Isaac
Newton
Force = Mass x Acceleration
29.68 N = 210 grams x Acceleration
Acceleration (m/s²) = 2.968 N / 210 grams
Acceleration (m/s²) = 2.968 (kg x m/s²) / .210 kg
Force = Mass x Acceleration
29.68 N = 210 grams x Acceleration
Acceleration (m/s²) = 2.968 N / 210 grams
Acceleration (m/s²) = 2.968 (kg x m/s²) / .210 kg
Acceleration = 14.13 (m/s²)
CO2 Car Acceleration = 14.13 m/s²
Gravity Acceleration = 9.8 m/s²
1.4 G's
of Acceleration
5 G's
49 m/s²
2 G's
19.6 m/s²
CO2 Car Acceleration = 14.13 m/s²
Gravity Acceleration = 9.8 m/s²
time
time
force of gravity
pressure in cartridge
(force of thrust)
850 psi
14.7 psi
CO2 Car Acceleration = 14.13 m/s²
Gravity Acceleration = 9.8 m/s²
time
time
force of gravity
pressure in cartridge
(force of thrust)
850 psi
14.7 psi
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
-.5 m/s²
1
2
3
4
5
6
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
How fast is my car going to go?
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
How fast is my car going to go?
m/s² x m = m²/s² = m/s
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
How fast is my car going to go?
m/s² x m = m²/s² = m/s
m/s = mph
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
How fast is my car going to go?
m/s² x m = m²/s² = m/s
m/s = mph
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
How fast is my car going to go?
m/s² x m = m²/s² = m/s
m/s = mph
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
How fast is my car going to go?
m/s² x m = m²/s² = m/s
m/s = mph
How do you solve for the area under a parabolic curve?
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
How fast is my car going to go?
m/s² x m = m²/s² = m/s
m/s = mph
CALCULUS
How do you solve for the area under a parabolic curve?
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
meters
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
4.71m/s
4.71m/s
2.35m/s
4.71m/s
2.35m/s
2.35m/s
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
4.71m/s
4.71m/s
2.35m/s
4.71m/s
2.35m/s
2.35m/s
+
+
+
11.77 m/s
18.83 m/s
21.18 m/s
Acceleration (m/s²)
14.13 m/s²
0 m/s²
1
2
3
4.71m/s
4.71m/s
2.35m/s
4.71m/s
2.35m/s
2.35m/s
+
+
+
11.77 m/s
18.83 m/s
21.18 m/s
26.33 mph
42.12 mph
47.38 mph
26.33 mph
42.12 mph
47.38 mph
After 1 Meter
After 2 Meter
After 3 Meter
HOW FAST IS MY CAR GOING TO GO?
What if we were to puncture a smaller or bigger hole?
Prompt
Solving for the speeds that our CO2 cars will reach at certain distances using math and physics.
Instructions
Print the attached PDF so that each student will be able to follow along in this physics exploration.
Deliverables
At the end of this activity, each student should have an understanding of the relationship between position, speed, acceleration and why calculus exists.