A Study on Rocket Mechanics and Dynamics Using Physical and Computational Simulations

The mechanics of rocket motion involve aerodynamics and mechanics. Launching a rocket initiates movement of the rocket through the air in a manner dependent on speed, direction, and angle. The trajectory of the rocket is also influenced by environmental factors such as pressure, temperature, humidity, and altitude. Varied trajectories result from different forces acting on the rocket, and Newton’s three laws of motion provide a fundamental understanding of the rocket’s motion upon the launch. The magnitude of the drag force is influenced by the rocket’s shape and size, in addition to the viscosity and density of the air. Lift is the force that acts perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. Also the shape of the cross section of the fin is crucial factor for creating adequate lift force and drag force for different efficiency. In this paper, to predict and manipulate the trajectory of a rocket, knowledge of drag, lift and gravitational forces are employed with the computational simulations. In applying these three major forces acting on the rocket with Newton’s Second Law, equations for motion in two and three dimensions are used. In this study, physics, mechanics, and programming were used to evaluate rocket fin geometry and trajectory curvature of rocket.