Expert: Mark Janus - 6/17/2009

Question
Hi, I am entering my senior year in high school and am working on a scholarship project through a Siemens Foundation Contest. I decided on working with a model rocket about four feet tall with a four inch diameter since I have experience in this field. However, I am not sure what I want to do with it. I've decided I want to do some testing inside the rocket as it flies and a teacher suggested building a wind tunnel inside of it. Would you have any suggestions regarding the wind tunnel idea or another experiment for me? I'd greatly appreciate it

Answer
Hi Stephanie,

I don't think a "wind tunnel" test will work inside a rocket.  You could study different conical nose pieces, to see which achieve the highest altitude...  You could study the effects of spin stabilization...  You could possibly study different nozzle designs thrust properties...  I know these are all external, but I'm really drawing a blank on an internal (experiment) that you could feasibly pull off...

Thanx for the question and good luck,
mj