Learning the Name: khaled abu-kamar
Scientific Method with Date: 10/10/2020
Paper Rockets
Student worksheet
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Learning the Scientific Method Name:
with Paper Rockets—Page 2
Directions: Fill in the sections below as you work through the scientific
method using paper rockets.
IDEA STARTERS
Why, how, when, where, what, which
Speed, distance, height, time
Length, diameter (width), shape, quantity (number of)
Rocket parts: fins, nose, body
1. Write down at least three questions you have about rockets. If you are stuck, try using
some of the words or ideas from the Idea Starters box.
What will happen if you change the numbers of fins?
What will happen if we change the length of the body of the rocket?
What will happen if we change the diameter of the body of the rocket?
2. Circle which of your questions can be explored using the straw rocket model. If there are
none, add a question that can be. Choose one of the circled questions to continue
exploring.
3. Research rockets using books or the internet. Write down at least two things you
learned that may help answer your question.
According to NASA website, wider rockets have more stability and are better for
asparagus staging, but taller rockets are more aerodynamic. Also, on wider designs, the
solid fuel boosters overheat faster and can cause your rocket to explode.
Newton’s third law of motion. Matter is forcefully ejected from a system, producing an
equal and opposite reaction on what remains. Another common example is the recoil of
a gun. The gun exerts a force on a bullet to accelerate it and consequently experiences
an equal and opposite force, causing the gun’s recoil or kick.
4. Identify the variables you will explore:
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Learning the Scientific Method Name:
with Paper Rockets—Page 3
Independent Variable Dependent Variable Controlled Variables
(what I change) (what I measure/observe) (what I need to keep the same)
The length of the body or the 1. The time that the rocket 1. The diameter of the body of
paper used to make the body of needs until it falls. the rocket.
the rocket. 2. The distance the rocket can 2. The number and the size of
fly to. the fins.
3.The direction and the power
of blowing the rockets
5. Make a prediction about how changing the independent variable will change the
dependent variable. Example of a prediction: The more fuel a rocket has, the farther
it will travel. (Note: This question cannot be tested with the paper rocket models
because they do not use fuel.)
The taller the length of the body of the rocket, the farther it will travel.
6. Use what you learned about rockets to explain why you think your prediction might be
true. Together, your reasons and your prediction are called your hypothesis. A
hypothesis is a testable explanation for how something works.
Assuming only the length changes and weight, width, shape, fuel quantity, etc. stays the
same, the distance a rocket can travel will change. Increasing the length increases the
surface area. The rocket will have a harder time escaping Earth’s atmosphere and will
have to use more fuel, reducing the distance it can travel on fuel. Shorten it and it will
have less surface area. It will have an easier time escaping, using less fuel on the way.
Noting that a rocket will continue to travel on its original course once it escapes Earth’s
gravitational pull regardless of additional thrust.
7. Write down the procedure you will follow to do your experiment. Make sure your
procedure includes all the elements from the checkbox on the right.
Materials: Procedure checklist
Paper Materials you need
Tape Step-by-step instructions
How you will change the independent
Straw
variable
Scissors How you will measure the dependent
Ruler variable
Number of trials (repeats of the
Stop Watch experiment)
Measuring Tape
Instructions:
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Learning the Scientific Method Name:
with Paper Rockets—Page 4
1.Bring three different sizes of paper (one
big , one medium , one big)
2.Roll each one on a straw but not too tight.
3.Tape the three rolls to hold it shut
4.Pinch them from the end and put a tape
on the pinched end to shut it
5.Cut triangles to make fins
6.Tape them to the rolls
7.Put the first rocket on straw and blow but
with measuring the time
8.After blowing , measure the distance that
the rocket had taken from the starting point
till the place where the rocket landed
9.Do the same with the second and the third
rocket and take readings
Changing independent variables:
By using different sizes (length) of papers
that we will make of it the body of the
rocket.
Measuring Dependent variables:
To measure the time we will use a stop
watch.
To measure the distance we will use a
measuring tape
Number of trials: 3 times
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8. Make a table to record your data
Data table checklist
Label columns and rows
Include units
Include space to calculate an average
Distance t.1 (m.) Time t.1 (sec.) Speed t.1 (m/sec) Distance t.2 (m.) Time t.2 (sec.) Speed t.2 (m/sec) Distance t.3 (m.) Time t.3 (sec.) Speed t.3 (m/sec) Average of Speed (m/s)
Shortest Rocket
Mid-length Rocket
Tallest Rocket
9. Do your experiment and fill in your data table.
Distance t.1 (m.) Time t.1 (sec.) Speed t.1 (m/sec) Distance t.2 (m.) Time t.2 (sec.) Speed t.2 (m/sec) Distance t.3 (m.) Time t.3 (sec.) Speed t.3 (m/sec) Average of Spee
Shortest Rocket 1.06 0.7 1.514285714 1.15 0.49 2.346938776 1.54 1.28 1.203125 1.688
Mid-length Rocket 1.85 1.01 1.831683168 1.64 0.75 2.186666667 0.94 0.41 2.292682927 2.103
Tallest Rocket 2.43 0.8 3.0375 2.9 0.44 6.590909091 2.73 0.72 3.791666667 4.473
10. Make a graph of the data from your table.
Graph of speed Graph checklist
12
Label X and Y axes
10 Include units
8
Distane(m.)
0
12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Time(sec.)
11. Draw conclusions from your experiment. Write one paragraph explaining whether your
results support your hypothesis. If your results did not match your prediction, why do
you think this occurred? Can you explain your results?
My conclusion is that the taller the body of the rocket, the further it travels. My results did
match my hypothesis as I expected because also in real space rockets most of them are
tall not wide because they are faster and can go further without taking much fuel. In
addition to that, my results that occurred during the experiments were very obvious, so it
did appear that my theory was true.
