After the first launch my group had to redesign our rocket. Our first step was to analyze the problem. Our problem was that our wings were unbalanced. This was because we only had 2 wings. We also thought it was a little top heavy so we had a lot of debates of if we should keep the extension we had before or take off. We decided we would cut it shorter and put it on the rocket. But we also didn’t know if we should 3D print our nose cone or keep the one we had before. At the end we decided we would add more wings, take away the extension, and 3D print our nosecone. Redesigning was actually very fun and I cannot wait to launch our revised rocket.
In school we have been doing rocketry. Yesterday we had our first launch and everyone was excited. We have recorded data and made graphs to see which groups rocket went the highest, and which groups went the lowest.
Based on the data, Blasting Rockets (My Group) launched lowest yesterday in the field with ≈ 20 m, and J.E.X.L launched the highest with 57.5 m.
Our rocket didn’t go that high compared to other rockets. Why didn’t our rocket go high? The reason is that, the rocket had a 2nd bottle extension.* The extension was to attach the nose cone. We thought it wouldn’t add that much weight because it was hollow. Our hypothesis was incorrect. The extension made the rocket top heavy which made it go in a U shape*. We also only had 2 wings, which made it unbalanced. The mix of those was bad. The reason it was bad is, when we only had 2 wings it leaned a little towards the right. The extension made it fall even more towards the right and eventually it turned completely over and fell at a very low height.
In the second launch, I think we should take away the extension and add more wings. Adding wings will add stability, and taking away the extension will take away that extra weight.
I learned there are different ways to launch water rockets. At first I only knew about the liquid nitrogen and the cork and base. I learned there is also a launch pad with a bike pump. The launch pad is the one we used.
I only have one question now; Will our rocket go the highest after the revisions?
Today in class we learned about clinometers and trundle wheels.
The clinometer measures the angle something is a and then you convert it in to meters. The way it works is, there is a little eyehole, and you follow the object you are measuring, up until you reach it’s end. When you reach the end you pull a trigger and a built in arrow will point to some number on the bottom of the clinometer. After that you let the trigger go and see what number the arrow is pointed to. Whatever number it is, is the degree of the angle.
The trundle Wheel measures meters. There is a wheel that you put on the ground and walk with. Each time you pass a meter the trundle wheel will click. You count the number of clicks you hear to know you’ve passed a meter.
This is the trundle wheel we will be using in class.
We will be using these because we need to measure how high our Rockets go in Rocketry and how far we are when we are measuring the angle.
In class we were studying ecosystems to make a PSA. We had to do major research and we worked so hard to make these videos really good. I had to figure out the perfect music and what notes to play but overall I really liked it. I think everyone in my class worked really hard and that this project was really fun. My PSA is about saving the tundra.
The Kingda Ka opened at Six Flags Great Adventure today and I REALLY want to go on it. The way I’m going to go on it is, I’m going to go on most of the other roller coasters in Six Flags and then last I’m going to go on the Kingda Ka.
A month ago my dad was fixing his computer and he was about to throw away his hard drive and I asked him for it and he gave it to me. I opened it up with a screw driver and studied it with a magnifying glass. This is what it looks like.
Inside of a Hard Drive
I think the orange computer chip is transferring the data to the brown strip. Then, the brown strip transfers the data to the little needle. I think the needle has a chip in it so it can transfer the data to the disc and both disc’s store the data.
The way people get their data back from their computer is, they unscrew the disc from the hard drive and put it in a new hard drive.
I think that is how a hard drive works. I am going to do research on it so that I can find out how a hard drive actually works.
Stargirl is getting popular. Now she is the one with the power, not Hillary Kimble. An example of her being popular and having power is when the book says everyone (except Hillary and Wayne) showed up to the football game and usually no one came. The reason they came: Stargirl Caraway. They all came to see her because last time she came she did this sort of dance and punted the football really high. They were all hoping to see this but sadly didn’t. But when Stargirl gets invitedto the team and doesn’t need to try out she’s still popular. The difference with Hillary and Stargirl is I don’t think Stargirl notices or cares that she is popular.
Stargirl is changing now, after 1 week of practicing she puts on her uniform and looks like everybody else. I think this is bad. I think this because, sometimes the way you look affects the way you act, and right now Stargirl looks the same as everyone so she might start to act like everyone. This is bad because Stargirls personality is one word. Different. Stargirl is different but that’s what makes her unique. So, if Stargirl starts acting like everyone else then, she basically just lost a peace of herself. Stargirl stands out from the crowd. Stargirl is meant to be Unique.
Eric says griffin is like a brick. He has no feelings. Instead of a brick I would compare him to a ghost. I think this because, ghosts have no sense of life near them and don’t have an idea of what is happening around them. Griffin, on the other hand, doesn’t care about life near him. He only cares about what he wants to do, who he wants to do it to, and when. Or he cares about, what he wants, who he wants to get it for him and when. Both ways are bad. He also seems very far and distant sometimes, like ghosts. That is why I would compare griffin to a ghost.
This year we were studying Colonial America. For part of the unit we made slideshows about a Colonial topic we picked. I picked Colonial laws. In some chapters, I compared and contrasted Colonial life and life now. My book has a little bit about crimes, punishments and even a narrative story from the point of view from the criminal. Read my book to find out more.
