For a personal experiment, I worked with two peers to make matchbox rockets. We started by doing some research. Essentially, you roll up a piece of tinfoil, with the head of a match in the top. The rocket is hollow, and gets put on a wooden stake to keep it straight. As you hold a candle near the head of the rocket, it heats up the match head until it lights. The ignition pushes the rocket off of the stick, and leaves a trail of smoke behind it. We gathered our supplies, and got started.
We started by trying to reuse old aluminum foil for the bodies, so as not to waste. However, we realized that the racket can have any holes or pockets, other than the bottom. Otherwise, it wouldn't launch straight. It took us a few tries to get the hang of rolling the foil, and making fins, but eventually we had a few that we could try. With these, you can only use them once. No reloading, you just need to make more. | With the fins, they were squares of metal-like ducting tape. We folded it into fins, and then slid it on to the rockets. It kept them straight and balanced in the air. Below is a video of our launch attempts. |
Reflection
Looking Back: We didn't get a single rocket to work in our experiment. My guess is that the rocket had gaps in the sides, which allowed the smoke to escape. Also, perhaps the matches that we used weren't strong enough to launch the rocket off the stick.
Looking Beyond: During the experiment, I started wondering what was on the head of matches that caused it to light. I did some research, and learned that the end is coated in phosphorus, and then lights due to friction. Perhaps if we had used more phosphorus, by making homemade matches, we could have had better rockets.
Looking Inward: Our experiment did not get desirable results. We didn't get any rockets to launch. Perhaps if we had spent more time on wrapping the foil tighter, to keep out any air gaps. I think that I did perform well in this activity, despite the lack of launching. I worked well with my partners, and shared the work. I made sure to take pictures and document the process.
Looking Outward: I worked with two peers who I had not been in a project group with before. It was sort of a test, to see if I should work with them again on any larger, more difficult projects. I am glad with the way that my group performed. We all contributed equally, and participated in the work.
Looking Forward: If I did this project again, I would try to wrap the foil bodies tighter. I would also find stronger matches, such as strike anywhere matches. I would work with either of my two peers again in the future, but I think i'm going to work individually for my next experiment. I want to see how I can work when I have no one to rely on. I'm also not sure if our mini experiment could go any further. It was fun though, and i'm glad that we did it.
Looking Beyond: During the experiment, I started wondering what was on the head of matches that caused it to light. I did some research, and learned that the end is coated in phosphorus, and then lights due to friction. Perhaps if we had used more phosphorus, by making homemade matches, we could have had better rockets.
Looking Inward: Our experiment did not get desirable results. We didn't get any rockets to launch. Perhaps if we had spent more time on wrapping the foil tighter, to keep out any air gaps. I think that I did perform well in this activity, despite the lack of launching. I worked well with my partners, and shared the work. I made sure to take pictures and document the process.
Looking Outward: I worked with two peers who I had not been in a project group with before. It was sort of a test, to see if I should work with them again on any larger, more difficult projects. I am glad with the way that my group performed. We all contributed equally, and participated in the work.
Looking Forward: If I did this project again, I would try to wrap the foil bodies tighter. I would also find stronger matches, such as strike anywhere matches. I would work with either of my two peers again in the future, but I think i'm going to work individually for my next experiment. I want to see how I can work when I have no one to rely on. I'm also not sure if our mini experiment could go any further. It was fun though, and i'm glad that we did it.