Rocketry Terms and Concepts

Front

a change in velocity.

Back

Acceleration

Front

Newton's Third Law of Motion.

Back

Action/Reaction

Front

the angle between the relative wind direction and an imaginary line through the center of a flying surface, such as an airplane wing or a rocket fin. Generally, as the angle of attack increases (raising the forward edge of the surface) so does lift and drag.

Back

Angle of Attack

Front

the angle between the relative wind direction and an imaginary line through the center of a flying surface, such as an airplane wing or a rocket fin. Generally, as the angle of attack increases (raising the forward edge of the surface) so does lift and drag.

Back

Angle of Attack

Front

determined by measuring the angle between the rocket's position on the launch pad and the highest point (apogee) reached by the rocket as seen by the tracking station or observer.

Back

Angular Distance

Front

the peak altitude of a model rocket.

Back

Apogee

Front

the distance between a tracker and the launch pad.

Back

Baseline

Front

a specially wound and treated cardboard or lightweight plastic cylinder used to make the fuselage of a model rocket.

Back

Body Tube

Front

the period of time immediately following propellant burnout and preceding the ignition of the ejection charge of the engine during which the rocket coasts on its momentum.

Back

Coasting Phase

Front

the resistance or friction force experienced by any object moving through air.

Back

Drag