Rocketeers Advance to Nationals

At its May 15 meeting the school board recognized Seminole Ridge SECME as overall champions in the 2013 district Olympiad model rocketry contest. Team Osprey now advances to the SECME national competition next month at Embry-Riddle College of Engineering in Daytona Beach. Congrats!
 

(Photo, L-R: brothers Nick Smith and Sam Smith, Kim Smith [no relation] with championship certificate.)

Moby - an idea for water rocket seminar

Idea for decorating a water rocket: paint orange and details for a Moby head. Not sure how aerodynamic it will be, but it will look like a winner.



Moby and Lily Landstrom

Moby and Mr. Landstrom

Ever wonder how spaceships leap off the planet and fly into outer space? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will teach you the basics of space flight! First, you’ll get a brief lesson on the physical forces that send spacecraft zooming into space. Next, you’ll learn some of the main concepts of rocketry, including the all-important force called thrust. You’ll also gain an understanding of the two basic types of rockets and how they work to get spacecraft off the ground. And you’ll learn a bit about various types of spacecraft and the rockets they use to become space-bound. So strap in and get ready for the countdown to begin--this movie is really out of this world!

Blood Drives in Danger?

Blood Drives in Danger?
by Cameron Edlund, Ridge staff writer
Originally appeared in The Ridge, the school newspaper for Seminole Ridge High, Volume 8, Issue 14

Our school hosts blood drives throughout the year, and science teacher Mrs.Shawna Ahmad coordinates those drives with help from the National Honor Society blood drive committee, resulting in our students donating the most blood of any school in Palm Beach County for some time now.

If you happened to be in the courtyard during the last drive, you saw science students launching bottle rockets in a spectacular fashion. Hundreds of rockets were launched, labeled—as an incentive to give—with the names of those who donated. Twenty-eight rockets, launched before any others, were fired off in honor of those who died in the Sandy Hook school shootings. It was a touching ceremony to watch, and a pretty cool one.

Unfortunately, the system that worked for so long was changed for the last drive, and maybe for many to come. Students who wished to participate used to be able to choose any class to ‘skip’ to donate blood. Of course they all chose their worst class, usually a ‘core’ class, to skip. The core class teachers had had enough, leading to new restrictions: students are no longer allowed to cut a ‘core’ class to give blood, so many don’t bother signing up for the drive.

Along with the food and the reward of saving lives, kids donated in order to skip class. Sound ugly? What can you expect? We're just kids! And without the ‘skip class’ incentive, blood donations have dropped significantly—you could see how few people were sitting in the waiting room to donate. Unlike in previous years where we were packed like sardines, no one struggled to find a seat.

We must ask the ‘core’ teachers: is this new restriction really worth it? Is missing one class that wrong? It might be any of us—or them—lying on a table someday in need of blood!

"IM" IS OUT - THINK IT'S POSSIBLE! Hawks Fly 2nd Place Finish

THINK IT'S imPOSSIBLE? THINK sySTEMatically. THINK SECME! Seminole Ridge SECME takes second place during district engineering Olympiad

Seminole Ridge SECME is the winner of five trophies and ribbons at the 2013 SECME Olympiad engineering competition, including second place overall for Palm Beach County! Teams from sixteen high schools in Palm Beach County participated in the engineering contests at Santaluces Community High School in Lantana on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Students squared off in competition to race mousetrap powered model cars, launch model rockets, build and break model balsa wood bridges; in general knowledge games during the "Brain Bowl"; and in literary and artistic competitions with essays, banners, and posters.

(Photo: the SRHS SECME team; front row, L-R: Mr. Ed Batchelor and Mr. Erich Landstrom; back row: Nicholas Smith, Kimberly Smith, Kyle Reilly, Patrick Dickson, Kyle Whirlow, Victoria Simmons, James Carter, Cody Summerlin, Jarrett Rimel, and Sam Smith.)

The competition of cogitators was fierce. And the Hawks soared high: honorable mention - balsawood bridge; second place - banner; second place - water rocket (Team Seniors); first place - water rocket (Team Osprey); second place overall in the entire district! Coaches Erich Landstrom and Ed Batchelor, the school SECME coordinators, and principal James Campbell congratulate the Hawks on their awesome achievements.

(Click on the first picture to flip through the Seminole SECME team competing at Santaluces High School for the 2013 Palm Beach County School District SECME Olympiad on Saturday, February 23, 2013)

20130213 SDPBC SECME Olympiad

If You (Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It), They Will Come

Just a reminder: after the Olympiad this month, next month is Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It - one of the most popular engineering events for students in South Florida.

DiBiFiLiTi will take place Saturday, March 9, 2013 in Dreher Park, from 8am - 3pm. The South Florida Science Museum, in partnership with the Florida Engineering Society, invites students compete for cash prizes in five different areas:

• (Drop It) The perfect egg container to protect it from a 3-story drop
• (Build It) An unbreakable bridge
• (Fly It) The most aerodynamic paper airplane
• (Launch It) The ultimate water bottle rocket
• (Thrill It) A thrilling roller coaster

Cash prizes awarded to 1st - 4th place winners for elementary, middle and high school categories. Last year, my daughter won $75 for her water rocket, so tell your SECME students its time to turn their payload into a paycheck!

Register now at 
http://www.sfsm.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&content_id=297

Water Rocket Alternative Fuels

Seminole Ridge High students use blood drive to honor Sandy...

Seminole Ridge High students use blood drive to honor Sandy Hook, Challenger tragedies


By Jason Schultz
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

THE ACREAGE — Seminole Ridge High School students on Monday held a blood drive and launched water rockets to honor victims of two tragedies, one recent and one decades old.

Students held their annual blood drive and dedicated it to honor the memory of the 26 people killed during the December school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Newtown, Conn. — though no blood or money is being donated from the event directly to any Sandy Hook-related charity efforts.

For each pint of blood donated by students and staff, the students — who were part of the school’s science and engineering club — launched a water rocket.

The blood drive event on Monday was also held to mark the anniversary of the death of local teacher Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to fly in space. Her death during the Challenger space shuttle disaster happened exactly 27 years ago on Jan. 28, 1986.

Seminole Ridge High Students Honor Sandy Hook Victims &Space Shuttle Astronauts

Seminole Ridge High Students Honor Sandy Hook Victims

Posted by: Natalia Arenas

- January 29th, 2013

Seminole Ridge High School students in the SECME Engineering Club and the National Honor Society chapter hosted a special blood drive to honor the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary.

 

Seminole Ridge HS Science students in Mr. Landstrom's AP Physics class.

The Hawks have yearly hosted a “GIVE BLOOD—IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE” blood drive that recognizes that giving blood is a small sacrifice with great rewards. Each donation can help to save up to three lives. For every pint given, SECME celebrates by letting the student launch a personalized pressurized water rocket launch.

Working in teams, SECME students constructed water rockets from two-liter soft drink bottles and other materials, which are propelled by the “fuel” of a pint of water and air compressed to 70 psi.

This year, to honor and reflect on the loss of the twenty children and six educators in the community of Newtown, CT who were the victims of the senseless and horrific acts of violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Seminole Ridge High students released 26 water rockets into the sky, dedicated toward each individual killed in the shooting.

January 28^th is also significant as the day of remembrance for Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to fly in space. McAuliffe was selected from among more than 11,000 applicants from the education profession for entrance into the astronaut ranks. She was planning to conduct experiments and teach two lessons from Space Shuttle Challenger. On January 28, 1986, her spacecraft disintegrated 73 seconds after launch. Blood donations will be dedicated in memory of her and her fellow crewmates.

 

Stephen Peterson and Melissa Garrity hold the mission patch for mission patch and crew portrait for STS-107. STS-107 was the 113th flight of the Space Shuttle program, and the final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia. The seven-member crew died on February 1, 2003 when the Columbia orbiter disintegrated during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.

 

Andrea Olave and Jeff Rizzo help dedicate the water rockets. For every pint donated, SECME celebrates by launching a ‘personalized’ water rocket.

 

Alec Gilbert and Cameron Schneider help prepare the remembrance rockets for launch. Working in teams, SECME students constructed water rockets from two-liter soft drink bottles and other materials, which are propelled by the “fuel” of a pint of water and air compressed to 70 psi.

 

For more information contact Erich Landstrom at (561) 422-2600 or via email at erich.landstrom@palmbeachschools.org.

 

 

###

 

Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org

 

Seminole Ridge Students Honor Sandy Hook Shooting Victims with Blood Drive and Remembrance Rockets.

On Monday, January 28, 2013, Seminole Ridge High School students in the SECME engineering club and the National Honor Society chapter will host a special blood drive to honor the victims of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.  

The Hawks have yearly hosted a “GIVE BLOOD—IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE” blood drive that recognizes that giving blood is a small sacrifice with great rewards. Each donation can help to save up to three lives. For every pint given, SECME celebrates by letting the student launch a personalized pressurized water rocket launch. Working in teams, SECME students constructed water rockets from two-liter soft drink bottles and other materials, which are propelled by the “fuel” of a pint of water and air compressed to 70 psi.

This year, to honor and reflect on the loss of the twenty children and six educators in the community of Newtown, Connecticut who were the victims of the senseless and horrific acts of violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, December 14, 2012, the NHS and SECME students will release 26 water rockets into the sky, dedicated toward each individual killed in the shooting.

January 28^th is also significant as the day of remembrance for Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to fly in space. McAuliffe was selected from among more than 11,000 applicants from the education profession for entrance into the astronaut ranks. She was planning to conduct experiments and teach two lessons from Space Shuttle Challenger. On January 28, 1986, her spacecraft disintegrated 73 seconds after launch. Blood donations will be dedicated in memory of her and her fellow crewmates.

Donations are accepted at Seminole Ridge on January 28^th from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Seminole Ridge Community High School is located at 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Loxahatchee, FL 33470. For directions, click on http://tinyurl.com/SeminoleRidgeHigh to Mapquest a route.

20121020 SECME Water Rocket Design Seminar

Click on the first picture to flip through a photostream of October 20, 2012 SECME Water Rocket Design Seminar in the Acreage)

The Seminole Ridge SECME (science-engineering-communication-math education) club hosted a model rocket design seminar on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Acreage Branch Library, with launches at Acreage Community Park - 50 students, 15 school coordinators, 25 parents, and 2 district administrators attend the day long event to work on water rockets. Coaches Ed Batchelor and Erich Landstrom provided Palm Beach County students with the place, the parts and the prompts for their Olympiad entries.

Working in teams, SECME students constructed a simple water rocket from two-liter soft drink bottles and other materials. The bottle has a nose cone for streamlining and fins for stability. The rocket is powered by air pressure and water, and judged by longest hang time. Seminar students easily achieved flights of six seconds, with an record of 7.2 seconds of air aloft hang time for the day.

UPDATE: I received this feedback from teacher Liz Wenk, at West Boca Raton Community High School

Hi!
I just wanted to thank you so much for the water rocket workshop on Saturday.  It was extremely informative and also fun!
I forgot to turn in the evaluation form, but that is basically the feedback I can offer.  I came in with little knowledge of how the competition would work, and by the time that I left I felt comfortable using the equipment at our school.  My students loved it and definitely have a better idea of what direction they want to take in designing their rocket.
Thanks again for a well planned and executed workshop... I look forward to the ones to come!

In the SECME program, students are required to design, build, and test a variety of engineering research projects throughout the year. SECME student teams will construct water bottle rockets from two-liter soft drink bottles and other materials to launch for maximum hang time. The rocket is powered by air pressure and water. Essays, artwork, and banners communicating student interpretations of this year’s theme, “THINK it's imPOSSIBLE? THINK sySTEMatically. THINK SECME!” will be displayed and judged. The engineering Olympiad competition in February is the culmination of projects completed as a result of classroom activities, and of students, parents, and teachers participating in Saturday engineering design seminars. Design seminars familiarize students with the events in the annual Olympiad completion. They provide the people, the place, and the parts to work on SECME submissions.

Seminole SECME Seminar on Water Rockets 10/20

WATER BOTTLE ROCKET SEMINAR
Hosted by Seminole Ridge SECME

WHEN: Saturday, October 20, 2012 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

WHERE: The Acreage Branch Library is on Orange Blvd. just east of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, behind the Publix Super Market. For directions, visit http://www.pbclibrary.org/branch-acr.htm.
We will be launching around 1 PM at Acreage Community Park just down the road, 140th Ave & 67th St N. (weather permitting). Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event sites. Elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult (either chaperon or parent).

WHY: Working in teams, students construct a simple bottle rocket from two-liter soft drink bottles and other materials. The rocket is powered by air pressure and water, and judged by longest hang time.

WHAT TO BRING: (2) 2 LITER BOTTLES (PER STUDENT REQUIRED), PACKAGING TAPE, PARTY HATS, FIN MATERIAL (SUCH AS FOAM DISPOSABLE DINNER PLATES, CORRUGATED PLASTIC (NOT CARDBOARD) FROM CAMPAIGN SIGNS, PERMANENT MARKER, MEASURING TAPE OR RULER, SCISSORS, NEWSPAPERS.

Click here to register!

Drop It, Build It Engineering Competition 2012

Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It 2013

Di-Bi-Fi-Li-Ti is a design competition for cash prizes challenges kids to build an unbreakable balsawood bridge, create the perfect carton to protect a raw egg from a 3-story drop, fold and fly the farthest-flung paper airplane, blast off the best water bottle rocket for max time airborne, and create a thrill-packed roller coaster. The South Florida Science Museum in partnership with the Florida Engineering Society provides a premiere out-of-school STEM competition to elementary, middle and high school students offering substantial cash prizes for the top four finishers in each of the five engineering categories:

1. Drop It: Design and build a shipping container that will prevent an uncooked egg from breaking when dropped from two successive heights, up to 50 feet.
2. Build It: Given a range of physical dimensions and using appropriate building materials, construct the lightest truss-frame bridge capable of supporting the greatest weight.
3. Fly It: Given a sheet of paper, design an airplane that will fly the longest distance.
4. Launch It: Construct a rocket propelled by “fuel” (12 ounces of water) and air compressed to 60 psi that will be launched at a predetermined angle to reach the maximum height and flight time possible.
5. Thrill It: Design a roller coaster to convey a marble or steel ball within designated parameters, so that it stays rolling the longest, is the most interesting to view and has a theme.

Enjoy a fun filled family day of science and engineering exploration on Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event.

More information is available online at http://www.sfsm.org/

WBR Big Bang Theory's Mission Patch

Kyle's on crutches while he sat like that!
Thank you to junior Kyle Maglietta, artist and contortionist, who created this year's mission patch for the water rocket competition.



Each team will develop a patch design, used to symbolically commemorate the objectives of the mission. The team’s complete success will not solely be judged on rocket performance, but the combined effort of the team. Entries are judged on
Originality - Innovativeness of the design (30 points), Creativity - Uniqueness of the information depicted (30 points), Appearance - Attractiveness/neatness of the presentation (20 points), and Content - Representation of the team's name and SECME theme (20 points).

Water Bottle Rocket: In the middle of the patch is a rocket, split in half. On the right, it is a water rocket launched by compressed air and water, seen trailing a blue and white cloud. On the left, it is a conventional chemical launch vehicle, seen trailing red and orange flames, and grey clouds. The rocket is split to symbolize the present day and our future. The plan is we build rockets today, and tomorrow those STEM skills we gain in SECME help with what we want to be doing in the future. On the body of the water rocket side is written “HAWKS” for Seminole Ridge Community High School and our school’s mascot, the hawk.

The Big and Little Dipper: In the background are the star groups of the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. The asterism of the Big Dipper represents our SECME coordinators Mr. Landstrom and Mr. Batchelor. The Little Dipper represents the Seminole SECME students of 2011-2012 team.

SECME cyclone: In the lower right corner is the symbol of SECME, Inc., resembling a hurricane off the coast of Florida. A second SECME cyclone appears on the Moon to represent the first permanent lunar colony. The mission of SECME is to increase the pool of historically under-represented, under-served, and differently-abled students prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. SECME does this with project-based learning and hands-on competitions with model rockets, mousetrap racecars, and robots.

Earth and Moon: Earth is shown with the Florida peninsula prominent and a star to mark the location of Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee. The rocket is seen en route to the Moon, targeted for the lunar outpost. Above the horizon of the Earth, along the body of the rocket, and along the rim of the Moon’s limb is written the 2011-2012 Olympiad theme “SECME: Plan It – Build It – Live It!” This symbolically represents in order: planet (“plan it”), manmade object (“build it), moonbase (“live it”).

Mars Rover Curiosity Takes Off

NASA's biggest and most capable Mars rover ever left Earth on Saturday morning in a picture perfect launch from Cape Canaveral. The new rover, named "Curiosity", is due to reach the Red Planet in August 2012.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/26nov_msllaunch/

12 oz H2O + 60 psi air = 1 good time

Seminole Ridge SECME attended a water rocket design seminar, hosted by Discovery Key Elementary in Lake Worth on Saturday, October 29, 2011. The seminar was lead by Chris Garrett, PE and recently retired rocket engineer from Pratt Whitney.
(Click on the first picture to flip through the photostream)

20111026 WSRH News coverage of "Give Blood - It's Not Rocket Science"

Thank you everyone for supporting the October blood drive. We broke our own school records! We registered 243 people, collected 191 units, and we were short a mobile! It broke down on the way to our school.

We do realize that students were in the lobby/on the mobiles longer. We even had to turn some of our afternoon appointments away as a result. Otherwise, we would have reached our goal of 200 units!

Thanks to the SECME/Mr. Landstrom's students for launching rockets in donors names! The theme was Give Blood: It's Not Rocket Science!

Dates of next drives: January 30 Odd, April 30 Even, May 30 Odd (new donors only)

We want to thank you for your support with the interruptions in class. Mrs. Smith/Mrs. Muckle were calling down the students who had not shown up at their designated time to donate. This is done to ensure students are not skipping or abusing the opportunity. Students should be coming back to class with their appt. card signed/time stamped.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.
Shawna and Stacey
NHS

Brains and Heart! Seminole SECME's annual "Give Blood = It's Not Rocket Science" blood drive

Seminole Ridge High National Honor Society and SECME students hosted a blood drive at school on Wednesday, October 26 from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Our theme is “GIVE BLOOD—IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.” It’s a fun and unique way to teach people how easy it is to save 3 lives; much simpler than the science, engineering, and math (STEM) that it takes to blast off a water rocket.
(Click on the first picture to flip through the photostream)

20111026 Give Blood It's Not Rocket Science

For each pint of blood donated, SECME students celebrate with a rocket launch. The 2 liter bottle rockets are fired off with 60 PSI compressed air and a pint of water symbolical dyed red with food coloring.

To successfully launch, it takes the physics of projectile motion, the polynomial equations for parabolic paths, and the practice of precision engineering. But to donate blood, all a student needs is to be in good health, at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, have turned in a signed parental consent form, and present a photo ID.

And Florida’s Blood Centers will donate approximately $20 per unit of blood collected to the Scholarship Assistance Foundation to support students with tuition assistance for attending colleges, universities, institutions, and technical centers by furthering their education in STEM subjects!

Water Bottle Rocket Seminar on Saturday, 10/29

WATER BOTTLE ROCKET SEMINAR
Conducted by Chris Garrett, retired rocket scientist from Pratt & Whitney

WHERE: Discovery Key Elementary, 3350 Lyons Rd. Lake Worth, Fl. 33467

Directions: I-95 to 10th Ave. N. Go west to Jog Rd. South on Jog to Lake Worth Rd. West on Lake Worth Rd. to Lyons Rd. North on Lyons. School is on the right--past entrance to Cypress Woods development

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

WHAT TO BRING: (2) 2 LITER BOTTLES (PER STUDENT REQUIRED), PACKAGING TAPE, EASTER EGGS, PARTY HATS, DISPOSABLE PLATES (NOT CARDBOARD), PERMANENT MARKER, MEASURING TAPE OR RULER, SCISSORS, EXACTO KNIFE, AND EMPTY PAPER TOWEL ROLLS, NEWSPAPERS.

FOOD: Snacks and drinks available at $1.00, pizza $2.00/slice (Complete lunch $5.00: 2 slices of pizza, chips & soda)

Click on following link to register:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RKCGKKQ

Give Blood (But You May Find That Blood Is Not Enough).

When Backsliding Becomes Radically Re-engineered Rocketry

Congrats to David, James & Joey. The backsliding rocket had 11 & 8 sec - new records for the Ridge! Congrats to David, James & Joey. The backsliding rocket had 11 & 8 sec - new records for the Ridge!

20111012 WBR Backslider

Backsliding is defined as “reverting to a worse condition.” But Seminole SECME is backsliding to move forward with rocketry. At the very least, backsliding should increase our stability.

What does it mean to be stable?
Stability: the tendency of the rocket to return to equilibrium, or balance.
This means if the rocket begins to wobble in flight, it will straighten back up on its own.

For a stable flight, the center of pressure must be below the center of gravity.
http://microgravity.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/rktstabc.html

Center of Gravity (or center of mass) is the point at which the entire weight of a body may be considered as concentrated so that if supported at this point the body would remain in equilibrium in any position. Center of Pressure is the point on a body where the sum of the total pressure acts. Pressure acting on a surface area causes a force.

One purpose of fins is to guarantee that the center of pressure stays below the center of mass of the rocket. See G. Harry Stine's “The Handbook of Model Rocketry”: It is generally agreed among advanced model rocketeers and has been generally confirmed by flight tests that the CP should be no less than one body diameter between the CG. This is known as 1-caliber stability (from the days when rockets were a part of the artillery corps of armies). If your model has more than 2 to 3 calibers stability, it may be overstable and suffer from excessive weathercocking (tendency to turn into the wind). For a two liter bottle, the diameter is 11 cm (4 ¼ inches).

Recovery Systems
- A recovery system is something that slows the rocket's decent.
- It can be active (like a balloon, a parachute or helicopter blades), or passive (like a backslider)

Backslider
A backslider is made by making the rocket’s CG close to the CP.
This prevents the rocket from turning over at apogee and instead floating down on its side.
The backslider encounters more air resistance because by design it encounters drag. It is not landing in an aerodynamically efficient fashion, with its nose first.
Fins on this type of rocket should be larger to help slow it down. This will also increase the stability of your rocket.

“Swing Testing” is a relatively simple test that you can use on a model rocket to determine the stability. Tie a string around the body tube at the location of the center of gravity. Then swing the rocket in a circle around you while holding the other end of the string. After a few revolutions, if the nose points in the direction of the rotation, the rocket is stable and the center of pressure is below the center of gravity. If the rocket wobbles, or the tail points in the direction of rotation, the rocket is unstable. You can increase the stability by lowering the center of pressure, increasing the fin area, for example, or by raising the center of gravity, adding weight to the nose. If the swing test fails, it doesn't necessarily mean the rocket is unstable. It may be proved stable using other methods: like the Barrowman Equations, or the RockSim software calculations. These other methods should be used when the swing test fails.