Maximum horizontal distance competition

This forum is for non-members to ask questions about our competitions. Please check our FAQ page before you ask.
Avnish
New Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 4:02 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by Avnish »

Question!

Suppose I make two rockets.

One with a 1.5l bottle with a nose cone on top
Second with a 1.5l bottle having another same 1.5l bottle on top and then the same nosecone as the previous case

Keeping the dry mass of both the Rockets same and then using the same parameters in both the cases, which of these would travel farthest.
P. S - The pressure chamber is equal in both the Rockets.

Thanks in advance!
User avatar
bugwubber
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:47 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by bugwubber »

Avnish wrote:It's hell busy here. And unfortunately, I won't get much time for testing. 1.5 hours at max. Way too congested here :sigh:
Know what you mean. My weekend was spent replacing the kitchen sink with a much larger one that required extensive modifications to the cabinet. No time for anything else until that was done!
Bugwubber

Team S.P.E.W.
Avnish
New Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 4:02 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by Avnish »

No cabinets here but I had loads of assignments and reports. That too for every subject. Still a few left :(

What about the question btw :p
User avatar
Water Rocket Expert
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 622
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:39 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by Water Rocket Expert »

In my opinion, the one that is more stable is going further. Probably the one with the two bottles, but then if the other one is very stable (not over stable, yes that does exist!) it may go further. :D
Water Rocket Expert
I'm 20
Maryland
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
User avatar
bugwubber
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:47 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by bugwubber »

Avnish wrote:No cabinets here but I had loads of assignments and reports. That too for every subject. Still a few left :(

What about the question btw :p
Sorry missed your question.

The longer rocket would be better, and you would be able to reduce the ballast in the nosecone required to keep it stable.
Bugwubber

Team S.P.E.W.
User avatar
Water Rocket Expert
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 622
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:39 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by Water Rocket Expert »

Bugwubber is correct as he restated what I said.
Water Rocket Expert
I'm 20
Maryland
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
User avatar
U.S. Water Rockets1
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1778
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:24 pm

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by U.S. Water Rockets1 »

The dry mass is not given, so in theory there could be no winner. If you put 150 pounds of ballast in each rocket, then neither one would move at all, so it would be a tie.

This is just a thought experiment to get you to think about all of the variables involved. Making the rocket longer is going to make it more stable and it will fly farther, BUT there may be some situations where the weight makes a difference. Tweaking each size rocket for optimum performance means that each one has a "best" weight that makes that size rocket work to the maximum of the design. For example, the long right with no ballast may not go as far as the short one with 100g in the nose because the long one may be too light.

The lesson here is that you should tune the rocket in all ways to make it perform best, there is no one parameter that will make a rocket the best.
Team U.S. Water Rockets
Visit USWaterRockets.com
Visit our Blog
Tune in to our YouTube Channel
Visit our Facebook page
Visit our Twitter Page
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. --Thomas Edison
User avatar
Water Rocket Expert
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 622
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:39 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by Water Rocket Expert »

He is asking which one is easiest to make go the furthest. Of course you could try to life a horse but he needs to be practical and know which usually works better.
Water Rocket Expert
I'm 20
Maryland
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
Avnish
New Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 4:02 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by Avnish »

Guys :D

Secured the first position!!
Yayyyyyy!!

Got 127.5 meters at 90psi

Thanks everyone :)
User avatar
Water Rocket Expert
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 622
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:39 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by Water Rocket Expert »

Whoa, are you serious??? I was expecting more like 50 meters at the most with a 1.5 liter but hey whatever you say!
Water Rocket Expert
I'm 20
Maryland
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
User avatar
bugwubber
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:47 am

Re: Maximum horizontal distance competition

Post by bugwubber »

Avnish wrote:Guys :D

Secured the first position!!
Yayyyyyy!!

Got 127.5 meters at 90psi

Thanks everyone :)
Awesome! Congratulations! Would love to see a picture of your rocket if you are able to post it.
Bugwubber

Team S.P.E.W.