As a class we discussed "things" that may affect the distance our rockets will travel. We came up with a few ideas: weight, length, nosecone shape and size, fin shape and size, and the number of fins on the rocket. Which of these "things" matter most? How much do they each affect the distance of rocket flight. Let's do a science experiment to find out.  

       In a scientific investigation, we try to identify how much one "thing" affects another "thing." We call these "things" variables. We are trying to determine which variable (fins, nosecone, weight, length) affect the distance our rocket travels. We call these variables independent variables. We will build and launch a rocket and find the average distance it travels. This will be our control rocket and it will allow us to compare other rockets to it. We will then change one independent variable and see if the average distance changes. The distance the rocket travels is our dependent variable. 

 

 

                                          How do the independent variables affect the dependent variable?

                       How do the fins, nosecone, size, shape and length affect the distance the rocket travels.