Basic Rocket Stability

What marks the center of pressure of your rocket?

• The tip of the rocket

• The spot where the cardboard cut-out balances

• The base of the rocket

• The middle of the rocket.

Fill in the blank: The distance between the Center of Gravity and Center of Pressure should be at least ______ body tube diameter or more.

• 0.5

• 1

• 1.5

• 2

What happens if the Center of Gravity is too far forward on a rocket?

• The rocket will be unstable

• The rocket will balance

• The rocket will be too stable

• The rocket will not launch.

Fill in the blank: The Center of Gravity is the point at which the rocket ______.

• A) spins

• B) balances

• C) launches

• D) lands

What should you do if your rocket tumbles during the swing test?

• Remove weight from the nose

• Add weight to the nose

• Shorten the string

• Increase the motor size.

What does it mean if a rocket has a slight wobble but points forward during the swing test?

• The rocket is unstable

• The rocket is stable

• The rocket is too light

• The rocket is too heavy

If the Center of Gravity is closer to the fins than the Center of Pressure, what will the rocket try to do?

• Fly forward

• Fly backward

• Fly perpendicular

• Stay still

What is the relationship between the Center of Gravity and the Center of Pressure for stability?

• CG should be behind CP

• CG should be at CP

• CG should be in front of CP

• CG should be at the tail.

What is the easiest fix to moving the center of gravity forward in a model rocket?

• Add weight to the tail

• Add weight to the nose

• Make the fins smaller

• Make the rocket shorter.

True or False: The Center of Pressure always tries tof ollow the Center of Gravity

• True

• False