1. Aerodynamics and drag reduction
2. Forces of flight: Lift, Drag, Thrust, and Gravity
3. Projectile motion
4. Rocket propulsion as used for space travel
5. Atmospheric studies: how does temperature and pressure affect performance?
6. Planetary differences: how does the same rocket perform on different planets in our solar system.
7. Dynamics and harmonic motion with damping
8. Engineering - how parts fit together
9. Newton's Laws of motion
10. Artistic expression
11. Explaining distance, velocity, and acceleration.
12. Material properties, like density and volume
13. The importance of weight and balance (CG position) when designing rockets
14. Explaining that Work = force X Distance
15. Explaining the concepts of Kinetic and Potential Energy
16. Showing free-fall, and terminal velocity
17. The importance of units and unit conversion
18. Following directions
19. Exporting data and using spreadsheet programs to perform data reduction and manipulation
20. To show why multi-stage and cluster motor rockets are used
21. Concept of stored chemical energy (in the rocket propellant) and how it is converted to mechanical energy
22. Concept of efficiency - getting the most performance from the least exertion of energy. Can be explained by the different types of propellant formulations
23. Showing the concept of momentum and how it affects the optimum mass of the rocket
24. Finding the optimal launch angle for breezy conditions
25. Optimal launch angle for distance (ballistic curves), and how it varies with the thrust curve of the motor
26. Show how the distribution of mass affects the dynamic stability of the rocket
27. Demonstrating the concept of "Numeric Precision" -- the more iterations performed, the better the accuracy.
28. Show how different shaped components affects the static stability of the rocket
29. Compare the thrust curves of different motors. This can show how different geometries (hole size, location, dimensions) affect the thrust produced by the rocket.
30. Concept of "Impulse:" which is a thrust force multiplied by the time duration that thrust is created. The higher the impulse, the more power the motor has.
As you can see, RockSim is a versatile tool. You'll save hundreds of dollars because it can do so much. Place your order today for the site license.
For articles on RockSim check out the Peak of Flight index. This is a list, by topic, of all of the great articles the Peak of Flight put out over the years.
