August 16th, 2007Getting Kids Excited About Physics
Physics has always been one of my favourite subjects. The current understanding of how the universe around us operates is one of such beauty and simplicity that everything can be expressed and determined with an equation. But how do you get kids excited about such a complicated subject?
When in doubt, stick with what works: the concept of flight.
Model rocketry is a fantastic hobby for kids young and old alike. I dabbled with these little projectiles in my early 20’s (when I could afford to watch $100 explode on the launch pad) and it helped teach me the four basic principles required to send something into the atmosphere: weight, thrust, drag and lift.
If you’re getting started with model rockets, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Start simple. This is particularily true if you’re trying to get children interested. Start with a kit that requires little assembly and goes right to launch. Once you (or your kids) have had the thrill of launching and retrieving the first few rockets, the enthusiasm will carry forward for the more complicated projects. Apogee Rockets has a “Sky Starter Set” that is great for beginners and even includes a CD-ROM full of useful educational material that would keep anyone busy for several weekends. Most hobby stores carry these, and they can be ordered online if you don’t mind waiting a few days.
Start Low. Losing your first rocket can be a crushing blow, often resulting in giving up the hobby. It’s easy to underestimate how much a rocket can drift downrange when it’s 300+ meters in the air, and it’s always a good idea to gain a little experience with cheap rockets that can be lost with a minimal hit to the pocket book. NASA didn’t perfect their systems overnight, and starting hobbyists can expect at least one or two rockets to “disappear” when they’re starting out.
Look for a complete launch kit. Model rockets are launched by inserting a wire igniter into the bottom of the rocket engine. Clips are attached to this wire, when are then connected to a battery powered launch mechanism placed a safe distance away. I cannot stress enough that the ignition system should never be held close to the rocket, even if the wires are not connected. If a rocket goes off unexpectedly, you would be lucky to spend just a few days in the hospital. The rocket will need a launch pad with a rod to direct it’s flight for the first meter or so and a blast deflector to protect the ground. Rather than buy all the stuff seperately, look for a complete starter kit. Later, as you begin using larger and more complex rockets, you can pick up the sexier launch pads and ignition systems.
Once you have a few launches under your belt, you can then go forward with the more exotic designs. Some of my favourite models allowed me to capture digital video from the rocket in flight, and launch small payloads into the atmosphere (about 1000 meters up). Though I haven’t had the opportunity to indulge in this hobby lately, I look forward to one day teaching my children about physics and some of the basic principles with these methods.
Who says science can’t be fun?
Forget the kids, I want one for myself!
Rockets are definately pretty cool. I had some pretty nice ones a few years back, including a scale model of a three-stage Saturn-V. I never launched it, though, as I was afraid of losing the top stage