For our final launch we created a whole new parachute. It was designed in the shape of a circle, with sixteen holes and sixteen different strings attached to it. We found the design of the parachute on this website: http://www.lnhs.org/hayhurst/rockets/. On this website it showed us all the steps from folding to cutting and taping and hole punching. We used fishing line and duck tape to attach it to the outside of our rocket. This parachute was the key to our success.
We filled the rocket with 800mL of water and applied approximately 80-90 psi of pressure. With this amount of water and pressure we figured that it would go higher. We did this for 3 launches, the difference in all of them was how our parachute deployed and how it was placed on the rocket. The first launch our parachute deployed very late( very close to the ground) and it did not increase time in the ayer at all. The second launch, we stuffed the parachute in the rocket thinking it would work better. Instead it did not deploy at all. After discussing what our problem was with Mr. Blake, we decided that we should fold the parachute like how the little toy army toy parachuters parachutes are folded. Then we started our third launch. The parachute fully deployed late in its flight. Luckily it was a very windy time of day and our parachute was so well made that the wind lifted the rocket up and extended the time in the ayer. Our parachute plus the weather conditions of the day made our launch a success.
Congratulations on your time. I think that having multiple strings and having them equidistant from each other helped the parachute to be a good shape for air resistance.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! I cant believe you guys reach 17.5 seconds!! That's super long! I heard you guys had an excellent parachute. Good job :)
ReplyDeleteGood job on your rocket designs almost the same ideas as us. Good job
ReplyDeleteGeez, I hate you guys. When I say hate, I mean I'm just extremely jealous. Good job! That parachute was legit, and it caught the wind perfectly. I think an increased amount of water and psi would have really boosted the rocket into the air. Congratulations!
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