Upper School students in Physics and Conceptual Physics are studying Newton's Third Law, and are literally blasting off with excitement! “If you recall your high school physics class,” remarks Science Teacher Mike Berry, “Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The students are building water and air-powered rockets as a hands-on demonstration of this important physics principle.”
The students created rocket launchers out of PVC piping and plastic soda bottles, and used bike pumps to pressurize the liquid inside the bottle. When the students pull the release cord, the rocket expels the water from the bottom of the rocket as fuel, which pushes the rocket up. “These rockets accelerate REALLY FAST,” explains Berry, “propelling the rocket high into the air. Ask your physics student about what's been happening on Kesterson Field this week!”