"Micro-Rockets for the Classroom" by Alice S. Fletcher, Julia A. Cato et al.
Micro-Rockets for the Classroom
Alice S. Fletcher, University of North Florida
Julia A. Cato, University of North Florida
Jennifer A. Barrett, University of North Florida
Many people are fascinated with rocketry, as evidenced by hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Kennedy Space Center for Space Shuttle launches. Rockets demonstrate important basic principles of chemistry, engineering, and physics 1-5. Even model rockets are exciting to launch. Many physics teachers take advantage of this and use model solid fuel, 6 - 10 and water rockets 11-14 in their teaching activities. Scientific supply companies have responded to this interest and offer a range of equipment to investigate model rocket performance. 6,10,12,15 This note describes miniature solid fuel, or micro rockets, which are made from a single safety match, oil or paraffin, and aluminum foil. These micro-rockets have a range of up to 6 meters, and can be safely launched from a candle flame inside classrooms.
Originally published in the American Journal of Physics (November 1999) Volume 67, Issue 11, pp. 1031
Fletcher, Alice S.; Cato, Julia A.; Barrett, Jennifer A.; and Huebner, Jay S., "Micro-Rockets for the Classroom" (2001). All Volumes (2001-2008). 127.