ROCKET DESIGN PROJECT
GEOMETRY
MS. GREENBERG
Overview:
For this project, you will research and design a rocket whose purpose is to reach Mars
successfully. Which means there needs to be enough fuel to get there and everyone on board
needs to live through the trip!
You will then build a model of your rocket and launch it to see how high it will fly.
You will use your knowledge of volume, surface area, inscribed angles, inscribed polygons,
intercepted arc, and cross sections to design and construct an efficient rocket model that has 3
distinct sections.
Each cross section will need to be on a separate sheet of paper. You will need to have a
consistent scale and a coordinate plane on your graph so you can identify the points within your
diagram.
In those cross sections you must provide examples of:
- Two inscribed angles and their intercepted arcs.
- Volume and surface area of a cone.
- Volume and surface area of two right cylinders.
- Arc lengths of a section of your rocket.
- The Two-Tangent Theorem
- A line that is tangent to a circle
- Chords.
You will then launch your rocket and use trigonometry to calculate your rocket’s height using
trigonometry.
You will then present your research, design, and model to the class.
Essential Questions:
1. How can geometry concepts, such as volume, surface area, cross sections, and
trigonometry, be applied to solve real-life problems in aerospace engineering?
Rubric:
Sketch (82 points):
Sketches are clean and neatly drawn (5 point)
Consistent dimensions are present in all aspects of the sketch. (2 point)
Scale diagram of the entire exterior of the rocket. (4 points)
Vertical cross section of the rocket (4 points)
Horizontal cross sections of three different sections of the rocket:
o Top section is the command-and-control level, and must be in the shape of a cone.
(8 points)
Calculate volume of this section (4 points)
Calculate the surface area of the exterior of this section. (4 points)
o Middle section is the living area. (8 points)
Calculate volume of this section (4 points)
Calculate the surface area of the exterior of this section (4 points)
o Lower section will be storage and greenhouse area. (8 points)
Calculate volume of this section (4 points)
Calculate the surface area of the exterior of this section (4 points)
Calculate the volume and surface area of your entire rocket (6 points)
Inscribed angles and polygons. (37 points)
o Show at least two inscribed angles and their intercepted arcs. Prove these by
describing the angles and distances. (8 points)
o Calculate (and show your work) for at least one arc length for each section of
your rocket design. (6 points)
o Prove an aspect of your design fits with the Two-Tangent Theorem. Verify with
lengths. (4 points)
o Prove at least one line is tangent to a circle somewhere in your diagram. Prove
that it is tangent. (4 points)
o Describe three chords in your design. (3 points)
o Show one inscribed polygon in your design. Label all points and length. (4
points)
o Calculate the arcs between each point of your polygon. (4 points)
o Calculate the angle for each corner of your polygon. (4 points)
Model (26 points):
Exterior generally matches sketch. (2 points)
Rocket launches successfully. (10 points)
Launch calculations included and correctly calculated:
o Height the rocket reaches. (6 points)
o Time the rocket flies. (2 point)
o Graph of the flight path accurately labeled. (6 points)
Presentation (18 points):
Research includes features needed in a rocket for a flight to Mars (4 point)
Sketches are included and thoroughly explained (6 points)
Model is included and thoroughly explained (2 points)
Calculations are included and thoroughly explained (2 points)
PowerPoint is clear and concise (1 point)
Speaking is loud and clear (1 point)
Not reading from slides (1 point)
No unneeded slides are included (all slides are relevant to presentation) (1 point)
