Investigating rockets – question bank

An inquiry approach is a method often used in science education. The question bank provides an initial list of questions about rockets and places where their answers can be found.

The article Investigating rockets – introduction has links to further resources and student activities.

Q. How big are rockets?

• Introduction to rockets and space

• Lift-off

Q. What is space?

• NZ’s first space launch

• Getting rockets into space

• New Zealand’s place in space

Q. What are the parts of a rocket?

• Rocket aerodynamics

• New Zealand’s first space rocket

Q. What is a rocket pushing against?

• Rockets and thrust

• Types of chemical rocket engines

Q. How do gravity and drag affect motion?

• Lift-off

• Getting rockets into space

• Calculating rocket acceleration

• Rocket launch challenge

Q. How can a rocket be made to go higher?

• Effervescent canister rockets

• Water bottle rockets

• Rocket launch challenge

• Investigating rocket motion

Q. What do the nose cone and fins do?

• Rocket control

• Rocket roll control

• Rocket aerodynamics

Q. How does the mass of a rocket affect its motion?

• Rockets and mass

• Minimising mass

• Balloon car challenge

• Rocket launch challenge

Q. How do rockets cope with extreme heat?

• NZ’s first space launch

• Materials for hypersonic vehicles

• Developing ceramics for hypersonic vehicles

• Hypersonic vehicles

Q. Is it good to invest in rockets and space research?

• New Zealand’s place in space

• Rocket Lab launches into space industry

• ‘What if?’ science

• Brief history of rockets - timeline

Related content

3, 2, 1...Lift off! is a collection that supports the House of Science 3, 2, 1...Lift off! kit which uses rockets as a context for learning about forces. This collection of resources covers NZC levels 1–4.

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