Overview

Science Concept

The Earth exerts a gravitional force on all objects. A rocket must have a force greater than gravity to lift off. This force, acceleration, can be measured with a micro:bit in 3 different directions or as a combined force of all three. A two liter soda bottle rocket can be made and then changes in acceleration can be measured as it lifts off and falls back to the earth.

Project Goal

Give students real world experience with coding, collecting data, analyzing data, and reporting results using MakeCode’s block programming and a micro:bit with its sensors.(MakeCode.org and micro:bit.org)

Prior Knowledge

Students need to have a basic knowledge of how to code using block style programming (micro:bit using the Windows 10 MakeCode app) and download a program to a micro:bit.

Student Outcomes

Students will:

• Create experiments to collect data using micro:bits and measure acceleration of a 2 liter pop bottle water rocket.
• Code the micro:bits to collect data remotely over the micro:bit radios.
• Analyze the data collected.
• Report on the findings of the experiments.

Materials Needed

• 2 micro:bits with batteries connected
• A 2 liter pop bottle rocket with nosecone
• A 2 liter pop bottle rocket launcher
• A longer USB micro:bit cable
• Spreadsheet for data analysis

Adapted from “Rocket Acceleration z Radios“ by C Lyman