A brief history of rockets.

Find out how rockets work and the forces that act upon them.

Using what you have learnt, design, test launch and modify your own rocket in a mini scientific experiment.

Rockets must generate thrust to counteract gravity. Rockets create thrust by burning fuel (usually hydrogen and oxygen). Rockets carry their own oxygen supply as there is none of the gas in space. Hydrogen is used because it is highly explosive and creates a lot of energy when burned. Oxygen is needed for the combustion reaction. The fuel is ejected at high speed, causing the rocket to move in the opposite direction. Another force rockets need to overcome is air resistance (drag). To lessen the effect of drag in the atmosphere, rockets are streamlined to make them more aerodynamic. It doesn’t matter what shape they are once they are in space.

Around the Museum

The Activity

Rockets Key Stage 3

How Rockets Work

Take a visit to the Battle of Britain ‘Sunderland Hall’ to see the museums’ own V2 rocket.

Turn over…………..

A major milestone in the history of aviation was the invention of the jet engine. We have two of the earliest examples in our Milestones of Flight Hall, one British and one German. There are also example of two of the first jet aircraft, the German Messerschmitt 262 and the British Gloster Meteor F9/40.

Throughout their history, manufacturers have aimed to design faster and more efficient aircraft. As the appetite for speed increased, particularly with the introduction of the jet engine, so did the need to develop more aerodynamic designs. Visit the planes below to see the advancements in aerodynamic design.

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Bristol F.2b Fighter (Historic Hangars), 1917, 182km/h at 3050m Piston Engine

Supermarine Spitfire 1 (Battle of Britain), 1938, 570km/h at 5790m Piston Engine

Gloster Meteor F8 (Historic Hangars), 1950, 960km/h at 3050m Jet Engine

Eurofighter Typhoon (Milestones of Flight), 2003, Mach 2.0+ Jet Engine

Around the Museum

How Jet Engines Work

The engine sucks in and then compresses air before combustion with the fuel takes place. Gases are then released, helping to generate thrust.