Learning Goals
Students will be able to define and interpret quadratic equations and functions for a water bottle rocket trajectory as a model of motion under gravity.
Students will be able to graph and identify key features of the rocket’s flight path from data and equations as evidence of maximum height and time of flight.
Students will be able to solve quadratic equations to determine the rocket’s maximum height and the time it reaches that height using the flight model.
Students will be able to analyze and compare predicted versus actual rocket launch data to justify how well the quadratic model fits the observed trajectory.
Products
Water Bottle Rocket Trajectory Research Sheet and Prototype Sketch
Each student submits a research sheet with launch observations, a labeled data table, a quadratic model, and a hand-drawn prototype sketch with annotations. This proves individual understanding of the rocket’s motion and how user-friendly design choices connect to observed flight data.
Rocket Flight Data Poster and Collaborative Launch Model Presentation
Teams create a shared problem statement, a refined quadratic model of the rocket’s trajectory, and a low-tech prototype or revised design plan to present to classmates and authentic stakeholders. The final presentation explains how individual evidence from research informed the team’s design decisions and testing conclusions.
No rubric has been generated yet.