Model rockets make a great hobby for people of any age. Sport rocketry was pioneered in 1957 as an educational tool to introduce young adults to the doctrine of rocket flight. Today, hobbyists have access to a great selection, choosing primarily between an Estes rocket or an alternative from Apogee Components. This article provides a beginners guide to getting started with this hobby.
Your interest in this hobby is a great idea. Launching an Estes rocket together with your child is a great way to find out if your child has any interest in rocketry or not. It is not for everyone, but some kids will love it. Here are few practical tips to help you get started with the hobby.
One of the most important considerations is choosing the right kit based on your child’s skill level and abilities. This will greatly enhance their enjoyment of the rocket. Most of the Estes rocket kits available are recommended for ages ten and over. Estes sets include easy-to-assemble kits, starter sets, and ready-to-fly rockets. For a child who has no assembly skills, you might consider the RTF (ready-to-fly) models, which, as the name indicates, are fully assembled and ready for flying in just a few minutes. If a child has minor assembly skills, choose a model such as the E2X, with little or no assembly required. As a person’s skill level increases, you can appropriately choose a rocket that is more difficult to assemble. Estes also has rockets that require several days to assemble. The more complex the rocket, the higher the skill set needed to assemble it correctly. Since most of their kits require assembly, kids could get frustrated if it requires far more than they are ready to handle. Model rockets usually include other challenges such as one or more engines, a launch system, and other supplies such as glue.
If you want a safe, entry level model rocket kit for a young beginner, try one of the Estes Easy-to-Assemble kits. There is one called the Air Show Launch Set, which is the easiest of all kits to use. Assembly usually takes about one hour. This is also a super safe rocket because it is not powered by an engine, but by four “AA” batteries (not included). The kit contains two jets which, when launched, separate and circle overhead. The gliders are about 16.5 inches in length and contain a parachute for recovery purposes.
For someone above the beginner level, but still learning, the Estes E2X Rocket Kit is a great starter. The rocket is powered by an engine and can soar as far as 1,100 feet. A parachute allows the rocket to be retrieved and used over and over. The E2X Rocket Kit was the first rocket produced by Estes and still maintains a best-selling status for Estes.
Another important consideration is safety. To be safe, younger kids between the ages of 10-12 require adult supervision. Older kids might also require adult supervision, depending on their level of maturity and their track record. One important reason for adult supervision is to avoid starting fires. Since most model rockets use pyrotechnic (combustible) engines, caution must be taken to ensure that you are not using your rocket in a dry or highly populated area.
The engines used in model rockets are designed for safety. The engines are flammable at 500 degrees but anything is flammable at 500 degrees! Unless you plan to put the engines in your oven at 500 degrees, you should be okay. If you do plan to put them in your oven, you already need help and should find another hobby. Kids can safely handle the engines because they will not be handling any hazardous material. The casing is biodegradable and nontoxic. The engines are preloaded with a propellant and are a one-time-use engine.
For added safety, stay with well known brands. Every Estes rocket has added safety features such as their electrically ignited engine. Because of this igniter plug technology, misfires are uncommon. Don’t panic when you see smoke coming from the engine after launch. The smoke is normal and makes it easier to sight and recover the rocket after it lands. The parachute is designed to gently guide the rocket to the ground, alleviating or eliminating any damage during landing.
Used correctly, these rockets can provide you, and your child, with a lifelong enjoyable hobby or competitive contests and challenges. Estes rocket launches are used as school science projects all across America. Bringing science to “life” is a way to give students hands-on skill building, teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment. Estes model rockets are endorsed by both the US Space Foundation and the U.S. Space Camps and are available at most hobby stores.
What begins as a hobby can sometimes ignite a passion in kids that can lead to a lifelong career. Statistics provided by the National Association of Rocketry show that model rockets have inspired young adults to choose technology-related careers. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out this hobby can have long term benefits.
Click here to download our free model rockets guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.
Model rockets go beyond being simple toys – they offer a fun way to learn about physics and aerodynamics. Few things are more satisfying than launching a rocket into the air, and many kids will happily spend hours doing this. Making small adjustments of angle and propulsive force can demonstrate basic principles in an interactive way.
Clearly, anything that can be propelled hundreds of feet needs to be handled with care. Make sure that all safety precautions have been followed and any homemade constructions are built according to reliable instructions. Several companies specialize in rockets and parts, such as the Estes model rocket. Model rockets can come pre-assembled, with some parts to glue, or with even more assembly required.
Equipped with small engines, some Estes model rocket engines have enough force to travel hundreds or thousands of feet. There is plenty of scope for conducting experiments to supplement a physics curriculum or extend to a science fair project. To understand rocket aerodynamics, there are a few important concepts to introduce. Flight involves four different forces, including two opposing sets: weight acts downward while lift acts upward, thrust acts forward and drag acts backward. Other considerations include the center of pressure and center of gravity, which both affect a rocket’s stability.
There are many different ways that model rockets can be used for experimentation. Not only do rocket experiments offer an opportunity to see forces in motion, but they provide a window into the scientific method, data collection, and statistical analysis. When planning to look at rocket aerodynamics, there are a few things to keep in mind:
• Be prepared to repeat each rocket flight a number of times. Many factors can affect the results – from weather conditions and measurement accuracy to manufacturing differences. All rockets are not created equal, so repeat test flights with the same rocket-engine combination, such as an Estes model rocket. Then each data point will be a more accurate reflection of the rocket’s actual potential.
• Changing rocket parts will affect the flight measurements. Different engines, nose cones, paint finishes, specialty fins, and parachutes all represent variables to be tested.
• Test one variable at a time. Don’t change fin type and position at the same time. Repeat launches several times with each fin type, then with each fin position – the results will be more reliable.
• Measuring altitude is probably the hardest part of rocket experiments. There are hand-held and tripod-mounted elevation trackers. Using multiple trackers in different locations (but at similar distances) will allow a better estimate of altitude. Decide on whether measurements are made at the time when the highest point is reached or when the parachute releases.
When looking for an experimental topic, consider whether it is a testable variable and if it makes any meaningful difference. For example, think about whether certain rocket parts affect stability and spin, what parachute characteristics are most effective, or if predicted altitude matches actual altitude. There is a lot more to be learned than just seeing how high an Estes model rocket can go or how long it can stay aloft.
Click here to download our free model rockets guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.
Newton’s three laws of motion are so integral to everything around us that many people take them for granted. Young children achieve a basic understanding of these laws as they interact with the world around them, but older children, teenagers, and even adults can achieve a deeper understanding and an appreciation for these laws through model rocket kits. This article explains how a school project using Estes model rockets can be used to teach Newton’s second law of motion.
Newton’s second law of motion states that force is equal to mass times acceleration. These may sound like scary “physics” words, but do not let that overwhelm you. Let’s apply these terms to model rocket kits.
Force is a power or energy exerted on an object. When that force is exerted, the object will exert a force of its own in return. With perfectly balanced forces, nothing in the situation will move. This is known as a static situation. Imagine pushing your hand against a brick wall. When your hand exerts a force on that brick wall, the wall “pushes” back with an equal force, and nothing moves at all. This situation is examined in Newton’s third law.
However, in a dynamic situation, the forces are unbalanced. This means that the force exerted on an object and the force returned by the object are not equal. Because these forces are not equal, the object will move. Model rocket kits offer a great way to demonstrate this law.
Mass is the scientific term for all the “stuff” that makes up an object and is measured in grams. On the surface of Earth, mass and weight are generally treated the same way. However, outside of Earth’s gravity, an object will have the same mass but will clearly have a different weight.
Anytime the speed of an object changes, the object accelerates. If the object moves at a greater speed, this is known as positive acceleration. If the object moves at a lesser speed, this is known as negative acceleration (or deceleration).
All of these forces can be seen in the motion of Estes rockets. Prior to the rocket’s launch, the rocket will be in a static situation where the forces are balanced. When the fuse is lit, the fuel will burn and will produce force that propels the rocket upward.
The rocket’s mass can be measured prior to a launch. Estes model rockets with more or less mass will react differently to equal amounts of force and acceleration.
The rate at which the speed of a rocket increases (or decreases) is the rocket’s acceleration. Different engines and differing amounts of fuel can be used create differing amounts of acceleration. Model rocket kits provide a great illustration of different amounts of acceleration.
The effect of force, mass, and acceleration on the path of a rocket can be varied with different types of Estes model rockets, different types of engines in the rockets, and differing amounts of fuel. These “experiments” can be repeated to analyze the effects of more or less force, mass, or acceleration.
Model rockets are an entertaining way to gain a deeper understanding of Newton’s laws of motion. Rather than being a difficult or boring experiment in a lab, model rockets encourage a student’s sense of adventure. Experimenting with model rockets provides an entertaining forum to analyze these ideas!
Click here to download our free model rocket kits guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.
