05-12-2012, 11:53 AM
Water Rocket Design Project
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Transportation Technologies
One of the main areas of technology study in the new standards proposed by the
International Technology Education Association is Transportation technologies. Ref: ITEA
(2000) Standards for technological literacy.
People view transportation as one of life’s basic needs. The transportation system is a
complex network of interconnected components that operate on land, on water, in the air,
and in space. Although travelling into space has been realised, it has not yet become a
fully integrated part of the larger transportation system. Ref: ITEA (2000) Standards for
technological literacy, p. 175.
Introduction:
Using human muscle power, animal power, and the wind, people have been building transportation
systems since ancient times. These transportation systems can be classified as land, air, water,
space, and nonvehicle transportation. Nonvehicle transportation systems include things like
elevators, escalators, pipelines, and conveyor belts. Transportation has enabled people to explore
the world. They have gone everywhere, from deep under the sea to the cold polar-regions to the
upper reaches of the atmosphere.
Now we have begun to explore space. In space, far from the pull of gravity of planets, objects have
no weight. This is known as weightlessness or zero gravity. Sputnik I was launched by the Soviets
in October 1957 and was the first spacecraft to go into orbit around the earth. In April 1961, Soviet
astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to travel in space. The National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) is constantly trying to develop a system which will deliver a payload
into orbit.
The world’s mightiest rockets work on exactly the same principle as a balloon that zooms around
when you release it. The balloon and rocket are pushed forward by a rush of gas escaping
backward. This thrust is what pushes the rocket forward. The safe return of the delivery system is
also an important part of their mission.
This activity will allow you to take on the role of an engineer for NASA. You will design, build, and
launch a compressed air rocket that will fly as straight as possible and return its payload safely
back to Earth.