Model Rockets

If You have a powerful engine and light weight material then you could go fast.

You can use a set of formulas called the Barrowman equations o get the center of pressure. There are software programs that can automate this and also calcualate the drag.

Usually you would put the fins at the bottom of the body tube and evenly spaced around it. The rocket may be stable even though the fins were a little higher on the tube; it depends on the location of the Cg.

well it depends on what you mean by "needed". The Rocket, as a tool for both rudimentary aerial and space travel and exploration was developed early in the Ming dynasty by the Chinese, and perfected almost 2000 years later by an American named Dr. Robert Goddard. The rocket has found its most profound use in space travel, and is used primarily because of its ability to provide thrust without atmospheric oxygen. This is what makes rockets differ most profoundly from jet engines, in that the oxygen needed to create and sustain combustion is found in the fuel of the rocket (either solid or liquid, but most often the latter). Hope this helps, if there are any other questions just ask!

I like to put them on the lowest section, i feel this gives more stability.

Models that are 1/48 scale can easily be measured by using the following:

1/4 of an inch on the model = 1 foot on the real thing

1 inch on the model = 4 feet on the real thing

etc.

A rocket functions by burning an internal fuel source as a propellant. The thrust is then pushed through a nozzle to increase performance.

3 are sufficient. Adding more will just create atmospheric drag and slow the rocket down.

The tip of a rocket is pointy to increase aerodynamics and reduces drag. For example, if a rocket had a flat end, it would create more drag and slow the rocket down. It's also the same for planes too.

Yes. This makes the center of gravity higher up on the body tube, hopefully close to the middle, giving it a stable flight.

The length of a rocket affects its stability and aerodynamics during flight. A longer rocket can be more stable due to a higher moment of inertia, which helps prevent tumbling. However, excessive length can increase drag and make the rocket more susceptible to structural stress during ascent. Balancing length with mass, thrust, and design is crucial for optimal performance.

It's fins

Most model rockets have a nose cone that is either a solid block of balsa wood, or a hollow plastic shell. Some rockets require that a small amount of weight be added to the front end of the rocket to make it fly in a stable (straight) manner. In these rockets, nose weight is often added inside of hollow nose cones - common material for weight is a small blob of modelling clay or a solid blob of glue. When nose weight needs to be added to a rocket with a solid balsa nose cone, it is common to add a small metal washer to the bottom end of the nose cone (which will end up inside the body tube when the rocket is assembled.) The amount of nose weight needed in the size rockets commonly sold in hobby stores is usually between 0 and 20 grams.

you need to eat the rocket.. and it would be better if you eat it with chicken and Pizza or you can eat it with your mom ... and it might kill your mom

There's no absolute maximum. In terms of model rockets, the only critical requirement is that it physically fits; in models like the old Estes X-Ray the nose was significantly larger in diameter than the body tube; a balsa adapter and a short mylar tube was used to mate the large nose with the smaller body tube. A large nose actually helps stabilize the rocket by moving the center of mass forward.

The only other thing to consider is that the larger the nose, the larger the mass (assuming it's constructed of the same material). This means that a given engine will not produce as great an acceleration, so your rocket will not go as high or as far as it would with a smaller nose.

Because you can move the center of the gravity farther.

You launch it and see, -that's part of the fun of rocketry.

1. Get a paper towel/toilet paper roll.

2. Make some sort of guidance system... like a straw taped to it, or 3 paper fins on the sides.

3. Put (mint only) Mentos is the paper towel/toilet paper roll and tape a piece of paper to the bottom.

4. Put the rocket in a large cup full of Diet Coke/ Regular Coke.

5. Congratulations! You just made yourself a homemade rocket!

6. Stand back and watch it fly!

1/3 of water and sone grounded up orange peels

All methods of rocket propulsion are based on the exchange of momentum between the rocket and the fuel. This basically means throwing something behind the rocket at high speed. In essence, throwing a ball away from you is the same principle, you will experience a small force as the ball is thrown, a rocket does this on a huge scale. Many things can be used the achieve this affect

Chemical Rockets - Ignite a combustible fuel under pressure and use the expelled water and other by products to achieve a thrust. The escaping water is travelling at a huge speed so the rocket moves. Contrary to popular belief, fire does not = thrust.

Ion Propulsion - Using accelerated ions by using a system much like a mini LHC to provide a very small thrust, generally only used by small, unmanned craft due to practical limitations of this technology.

Nuclear Propulsion - The most effective form of propulsion ever conceived, drops tiny nuclear devices behind the craft and detonates them, using the expelled matter from the explosion to propel the craft. These craft were developed by the USA in the 70s but are now illegal under the partial test ban treaty. (See Project Orion)

Other forms - Accelerating rogue dust particles in space to achieve thrust (not very effective), using antimatter particles and using them as annihilation charges in a similar system to nuclear propulsion (the holy grail of space travel). Multiple theoretical engines exist, worth looking around on the internet.

Gravity will pull it down before the rocket can reach the height where clouds form.

The purpose of the shock cord is to tie the nose cone to the body of the rocket, so it can come off, but not get lost. Using Google isn't very hard.

They can vary as much as a car. It depends upon the components that you add to the rocket. See the related link for prices.

In short, yes and no. Model Rockets use solid fuel (propellant) in their engines (more commonly referred to as motors). This fuel burns, it doesn't explode. Therefore, like anything that burns quickly, there will be irregularities and flaws where it burns more quickly (or slower) than other areas of the propellant grain. These flaws and irregularities come from the process of making the propellant grain itself (it's an incredibly difficult task), and they're inherent when you have any rocket motor.

Interestingly enough, these irregularities are rather consistent and can be represented well in thrust curves (they'll be provided by the manufacturer of the motor). Most of these thrust curves provide constant thrust, with a few bumps here and there. Again, that's just the price you pay for solid burning motors.

So, to answer your question, yes, rocket motors are designed to provide constant thrust. However, there will be irregularities in the thrust performance as the propellant grain burns. It won't be enough to affect the rocket's flight, though.

On a side note, if you DO want constant thrust, use liquid propellant. Good luck doing it on the cheap, though. Or not dying while doing it, for that matter.

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Actually some model rocket engines are designed to produce a burst of thrust and quit, others are designed to produce a long nearly steady burn, It all depends on the shape that the fuel grain is molded in. You will have to consult the thrust graph in the data sheet.

Because model rockets must get off the pad quick to fly stably even the steady burn engines are designed to provide a burst of thrust initially before dropping back to the lower sustaining level.

For what it is worth use of liquid fuel engines on model rockets is illegal. If you want to try liquid fueled engines someday you will have to join an Amateur Rocketry group and apply for permits to launch with the FAA so that aircraft will avoid the area.