Today we learned about reading the periodic table and we built rocket engines. The most prominent ideas from the lesson that stuck with me, are that the row an element is in, is equivalent to the amour of shells the element has and it's corresponding energy levels. The column of the element is indicates the number of electrons in the most outer shell. To show the number of electrons in an outer shell visibly, we learned how to draw a dot structure. The Octet Rule states that every element wants to obtain a full shell, they gain or loose the necessary electrons to have the same electron arrangement as the nearest noble gas. The transfer of electrons is called oxidation, this is when elements become oxidized. The release of a rocket engine is an example of an oxidized product.
We also learned about RXNs (reactions) and when they come into rocket science. A combustion reaction is basically oxygen combining with another element and creating energy. This is what occurred in our rockets. They contain 65% Nitrate and 35% Fuel. The fuel is made of sorbitol sugar. The bonding of these elements create fire. The energy formed by the oxygen taking electrons is what powers the rocket.
We also learned about RXNs (reactions) and when they come into rocket science. A combustion reaction is basically oxygen combining with another element and creating energy. This is what occurred in our rockets. They contain 65% Nitrate and 35% Fuel. The fuel is made of sorbitol sugar. The bonding of these elements create fire. The energy formed by the oxygen taking electrons is what powers the rocket.
In a rocket motors, as depicted above, there's rocket fuel, a nozzle, formed with cement, a drilled hole that goes through the nozzle into the fuel, a fuse, and a small container of black powder attached to the fuse. To make our motors, first, we got a small PVC pipe about two inches in length, taped of the end, and poured in the rocket fuel that Andrew had melted prior. We sealed the other end with cement. Andrew drilled the hole and also attached the fuse string.
When the fuse is lit and the rocket prepares to launch, the motor will convert chemical energy to mechanical energy, powering the rocket.
When the cement and fuel was hardened, we went outside where Andrew had already set up an area to light the motors. He lit each fuse one by one. Some of the motors released a lot of smoke and made a loud hissing noise. Others were not powerful at all and quietly defused. My groups was about in the middle of these two ends.
This experiment exposed me to something that I probably wouldn't have done on my own, and helped me expand myself by learning about a territory I wouldn't have strayed into otherwise.
Below are some images of the process.
When the fuse is lit and the rocket prepares to launch, the motor will convert chemical energy to mechanical energy, powering the rocket.
When the cement and fuel was hardened, we went outside where Andrew had already set up an area to light the motors. He lit each fuse one by one. Some of the motors released a lot of smoke and made a loud hissing noise. Others were not powerful at all and quietly defused. My groups was about in the middle of these two ends.
This experiment exposed me to something that I probably wouldn't have done on my own, and helped me expand myself by learning about a territory I wouldn't have strayed into otherwise.
Below are some images of the process.