A model rocket follows projectile motion once its engine burns out — gravity pulls it back down, curving its flight path and determining how high it reaches. In this project, you use physics equations that account for thrust, drag, mass, and gravity to calculate expected altitude and speed for six model rockets. Then you launch each rocket and measure its actual altitude and flight time using altitude finders and stopwatches. The simulation predictions land within 20% of the measured results, showing that math-based models can give a reliable picture of how a rocket will fly before you ever light the engine.

The release angle shapes the curved path a javelin follows through the air, and that path determines how far it travels. Three trained athletes each throw at six different angles ranging from 20 to 45 degrees, with a video camera recording each throw so the actual release angle can be measured on playback. For all three athletes, the longest throws happen at a 35-degree release angle — throws above or below that angle cover less distance. The results show that projectile motion has an optimal launch angle for maximum range, and it sits closer to 35 degrees than the intuitive guess of 45.