2023 STANSW Young Scientist Awards Presentation Ceremony
Scientific Investigations Physics 11-12
Neeve Davies , Peel High School , The Effect of Fin Sweep Angle on a Model Rocket ' s Flight
Rockets are an essential component of space technology , and Neeve wanted to investigate the role that the angle of the fin has on its flight . Using a combination of first-hand measurements and simulations using the OpenRocket Simulator , Neeve demonstrated that increasing the sweep angle increased the maximum height of the rocket ’ s flight .
Tim Harrison , Lambton High School , Exploring Ricochet Behaviour in Spherical Projectiles on Water Targets
When a projectile hits an obstacle it sometimes bounces off . Tim used a Nerf Blaster with spherical Rival rounds to study the effect of the angle on whether there was a ricochet on a water surface . He measured various parameters during the collision using slow-motion video and imaging software . Ricochets occurred between about 10 ° -60 °, while the maximum cavity in the water occurred at 38 °.
Chantel Tuong , Moorebank High School , How oxidation of a copper solenoid affects the increase in its magnetic field due to the presence of an iron core
Electromagnets consist of a coil of conductive wire with an iron core and are used in a range of devices . Chantel wanted to test whether the level of oxidation of the copper making up the solenoid windings would affect the magnetic properties of the device . She found that the measured magnetic field produced by the electromagnet increases when the copper is left to oxidise for a longer period .
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