Rocket Scientist for a Day: Investigating Alternatives for Chemical Propulsion
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2012

This laboratory experiment introduces rocket science from a chemistry perspective. The focus is set on chemical propulsion, including its environmental impact and future development. By combining lecture-based teaching with practical, theoretical, and computational exercises, the students get to evaluate different propellant alternatives. To complete the task, they need to use several important curricular concepts, such as the breaking and formation of bonds, redox reactions, and thermodynamics. They also apply basic computational electronic structure calculations to investigate the energetic content of hitherto nonexisting alternatives. Finally, actual chemical rocket propulsion is demonstrated through the assembly and testing of a model rocket motor, employing a commercially available kit. The full experiment was developed for upper-level high school classes and is completed in a 3-h lab period. The experiment, or parts of it, has also been successfully used both in undergraduate programs and continuing education for teachers.

energetic materials

Computational Chemistry

Hands-On Learning

rocket propulsion

Applications of Chemistry

Oxidation/Reduction

Covalent Bonding

rocket science

Författare

Marcus Angelin

Erik Gabrielsson

Lena Gumaelius

Journal of Chemical Education

0021-9584 (ISSN) 1938-1328 (eISSN)

Vol. 89 10 1301-1304

Ämneskategorier

Utbildningsvetenskap

Teoretisk kemi

Kemi

DOI

10.1021/ed200848r

Mer information

Skapat

2017-10-10