Description
An Application of Elementary Mathematics in Modeling Rocket Flight
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This 4-hour online course is an introduction on different aspects of model rocket flight with 
applying elementary mathematics. We will learn how the heights reached by the model rockets can be determined. In addition, this course will help you to build better understanding of such concepts as relative velocities and speeds. Furthermore, during the course we will write a computer program which will model the situation of the rocket reaching the orbit.
The course is optimized for 13+ students, and adults are welcome too.
COURSE STRUCTURE
This is 4-hour long online course. We will be meeting one hour per week during the four week period. Online meetings will be held via Zoom. Students are required to have an access to their computers, iPads, or other devices with a stable internet connection.
The course will be a combination of a series of short lectures, practical problems, and programming sessions as well. We will be using a Python programming language. For this purpose you will need to download and install an Anaconda package which contains Spider, Jupiter code editors.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Your instructor will be Olha Sus. Olha is a graduate student (research assistant in STEM Education) at Tufts University. She obtained a Master Degree in Pure Mathematics at Lviv University (Ukraine), and completed three years of her Ph.D. program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is an author of four scientific publications which a focus on Mathematical Physics. Olha is currently working on the project related to Quantum Theory (Dirac Equations), and run a project with using Machine Learning in Qualitative Data Analysis for Math Education. She is a math instructor with 10+ years of experience in teaching Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science.
TOPICS COVERED
- Lesson 1: ”How high did the rocket go?” Easy altitude calculations. (1 hour)
- Lesson 2: ”How fast did the rocket go?” Easy speed calculations. (1 hour)
- Lesson 3: ”Acceleration against gravity” Ups and downs of rocket flight. (1 hour)
- Lesson 4: Brief introduction to programming with Python. We will write the code which illustrates the effect of the initial velocity on the dynamics of an object released in a gravitational field. We will do a very simple numerical integration of the equation of motion. It will give us the trajectory, which will be plotted for four different initial speeds for a rocket released at the given altitude parallel to the Earth’s surface. (1 hour)
COURSE PREREQUISITES
- Elementary Algebra and Geometry courses (Middle/High School level).
- Elementary Physics course (Gravitational Law, Acceleration and Velocity concepts, Newton’s Second Law, Trajectory, etc.)
- Elementary Programming with Python (functions, input and output data, elementary arithmetic operations with real data).
SCHEDULE
Thursdays (July 21, July 28, August 4, August 11) from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM (via Zoom).
Fridays (July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12) from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (via Zoom).
COURSE WEBSITE
- Those enrolled in the course click here for lecture notes and other course files.
Please be aware of our Cancellation and Refund Policies. For questions, e-mail info@nesci.tech or call 508-720-4179.