I have been building rockets since 1985, but never really thought of testing
the effects of fin straightness on rocket flight. I feared it would only
cause an unstable flight. Now due to a mock up science fair my Sons school
is conducting, he decided to find out What IF. We have built 3 Sizzler
models (boy are they smaller than they used to be!) and we placed the fins
straight 90 degrees on one, at a slight angle 110 degrees on another and a
large angle 140 degrees on the third. I live in a an area where the weather
over the last few weeks has not been suitable for launches, but his data is
due Friday. We attempted a launch today, but the wind picked up to around
10 MPH and the rocket was not recovered. I expect we will have to fake the
data, but I'm not sure what exactly will happen. Will the rocket fly, but
have altitude decreased by the spin, is it more likely it will fly out of
control, or will I see little difference? Please respond, I can't find any
simulators that permit me to angle the fin to the body and produce results.
All the usual programs assume I am smart enough never to improperly install
fins on the tube without really saying why.
HELP
HELP