Which Is the Optimum Model Rocket Fin Shape to Reach the Highest Altitude?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this project is to determine which fin shape will allow a model rocket to reach the highest altitude. Methods/Materials Estes Alpha III model rockets, poster board and balsa wood sheet. Make new fin mounts by cutting different fin shapes out of balsa wood and making new fin mount tubes with poster board; replace Estes plastic fin mounts. Rockets are assembled with new and varying fin mounts. Launch each model rocket 3 times, recording both the inclinometer and altimeter results for each flight. Results Assembled rockets had the following fin shapes; (trapezoid, rectangle, square, triangle, clipped delta, asymmetrical parallelogram, elliptical, pointed ark, & original Estes model). Averages by test number to the nearest centimeter bring these overall results - 40.29 m, 36.08 m, 41.26 m, 45.28 m, 45.02 m, 54.61 m, 40.82 m, 40.66 m, and 39.43 m respectively to the fin shape order given. These results suggest that the asymmetrical parallelogram fin shape on a model rocket is the best in reaching the highest altitude. Conclusions/Discussion Repeated launch trials of 9 model rockets with different fin shapes showed that the asymmetrical parallelogram fin shape performed better than the other fin shapes. This means that having a fin mount with asymmetrical parallelogram shaped fins made from balsa wood on a model rocket provides a significant increase to the altitude reached by the model rocket.

Competition history

• CSEF 2018 Aerodynamics/ Hydrodynamics (Junior Division Only) · Entry J0105

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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