Engine Analysis
Newton's Third Law:
Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, when the gas is accelerated toward the bottom of the rocket, the reaction is for the engine to move in the opposite direction. This causes the rocket to accelerate upward.
Engine Specifications:
The letter on the engine stands for the total impulse. The first number represents the average thrust. The second number represents the delay time.
For example: B6-4 engine
B - 5 Ns (total impulse)
6 - 6 N (average force)
4 - 4 s (delay time)
For example: B6-4 engine
B - 5 Ns (total impulse)
6 - 6 N (average force)
4 - 4 s (delay time)
Thrust Curve:
Thrust Curve Engine Identification:
Eggscaliber Wrong Engine Scenario:
By using a D12-0 engine the parachute will eject while the rocket is still climbing in altitude because there is no delay time between the engine shut off and ejection charge. That would cause the parachute to possibly rip off or not function properly. The rocket would then come crashing to the ground without the parachute to slow it down. The egg in the nose cone would definitely break. A better engine to use would have been a D12-3 because it would have given the rocket time to slow down and reach its peak before the parachute ejected.
Choosing an Engine:
The recommended engines for the Aerospace One are a B6-4, C6-3, and C6-5. The B6-4 would have a lower altitude than the C engines. The C6-5 would have a higher altitude than the B engine, as well as, a longer delay time before the ejection charge than both the B6-4 engine and the C6-3 engine. We chose to launch with a C6-5 engine to give the rocket time to reach its maximum altitude before the parachute was ejected.
References:
Newton's Third Law of Motion. (n.d.). Newton's Third Law of Motion. Retrieved May 14, 2014, from http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/newton3r.html
Newton's Third Law of Motion. (n.d.). Newton's Third Law of Motion. Retrieved May 14, 2014, from http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/newton3r.html