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Physics 11 Rocket Launch

The rocket lab is an annual physics event that students look forward to each year. AP Physics 11 students take on the challenge of building and designing their own rockets using paper rocket kits, with the goal of creating the rocket that reaches the highest mark in the sky.
The fabrication process usually takes two days as the students construct and paint their rockets. The excitement builds as the lightweight paper-based rockets are loaded with solid-fuel rocket engines on launch day. To say that these rockets definitely do fly is an understatement – they go hundreds of feet into the air, with some going straighter than others and most landing safely away from the trees. 
 
The students are responsible for collecting flight data on the rocket and then analyzing various facets of physics within their flight, such as thrust force, velocity, acceleration, maximum height, and drag. 
 
This year, they had a damp launch day, but the rockets all survived and landed safely within the rugby field launch area – except for two, which were fired off with regular engines on their first launch, then were loaded with impressively powerful engines on the second launch. These rockets had spectacular flights only to be blown off course into the bushes upon descent. Physics teacher Paul Doig reflects on the success of the lab, sharing, “We had another great year of learning that rocket science is actually pretty complicated and lots of fun. Go rockets!” 

Disclaimer: no trees were at risk or harmed in the execution of these experiments!
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