ASK AN EDUCATOR! – How can I measure the height of my model rocket?
Seth asks:
What would be a good way to gauge the height of my model rocket?
Well, there are really quite a few ways to make the measurement. In a perfect world, your rocket launches perpendicular to the earth’s surface, and you can use a trigonometry to calculate the altitude based on your distance from the launch pad and the apparent angle from you to the rocket. You can use a tool, such as an inclinometer or “altitude tracker,” which uses your line of site to the rocket and references it to a string held vertically due to gravity. You then record your angle when the rocket hits apogee and through trig or the supplied calculator, you can determine the height. The problem with this method is that it doesn’t take into account any drift, which changes the your distance to the rocket and skews the measurement.
Alternatively you can use the same method, but with two observers. NASA has a nice description and calculator that does the trig for you and gives you a much more accurate measurement.
Another method it to buy a altimeter like a PerfectFlite APRA Altimeter. This device uses a barometer and returns a beep corresponding to the altitude an achieved velocity. You can also find more sophisticated devices that have computer interfaces, GPS, temperature, etc.
I hope this answers your question, and have fun with you calculations!
Don’t forget, everyone is invited to ask a question!
“Ask an Educator” questions are answered by Adam Kemp, a high school teacher who has been teaching courses in Energy Systems, Systems Engineering, Robotics and Prototyping since 2005.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: CircuitPython 9.2.1, What is DMA, PyConUS 2025 and More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
Actually, the barometic pressure should give you a better height information than GPS. The drift on the vertial is +/- 75ft for GPS, while for barometric, it would be +/- 25 ft.
Actually, the barometic pressure should give you a better height information than GPS. The drift on the vertial is +/- 75ft for GPS, while for barometric, it would be +/- 25 ft.
http://www.gpsinformation.net/main/altitude.htm <- GPS
http://www.hills-database.co.uk/altim.html <- Barometric