Are you looking for some topics to present that can add excitement to your science classroom? Rocketry and space exploration, like no other subject, have a way to captivate students that makes it easy for them to learn science. They are having so much fun, that they don't even realize they are learning basic science concepts.

To leverage benefits of this area of study, you can use your school's computer to explore a lot of different science topics. In January 2005 issue of education magazine, "Tech Directions" (http://www.techdirections.com), there is an article by Spencer C. Wilson of J.R. Fugett Middle School in West Chester. In it, he describes how he uses a rocket design software, called RockSim (http://www.rocksim.com) to show students process of engineering design.

In this article, I'd like to give you some other ideas on how to use model rocket design software to demonstrate other basic science concepts. Here are some benefits to using RockSim software:

1. Allows student to simulate hundreds of rocket flights very quickly -- this saves lots of money! Just think of time saved too. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollar buying motors and hours-and-hours of time building different configurations, launching, recovering, and repacking rockets to test one control feature.

2. Safety. When you go out to fly rockets, knowing how they'll behave is an important aspect of safety. Precautions can be made. By running simulations, students learn what concepts contribute to keeping actual launch safe.

3. The scientific value is awesome. Each launch simulation generates a mountain of useful data. Analyzing this data is a fantastic way to teach scientific method.

4. Students love software because it is fun! It has features like a video game, so students may not realize how much they are learning at same time.

5. The RockSim software is same tool that is used by real rocketry professionals - like NASA, military contractors, and universities. So you can feel confident in results you get back from program.

6. The software allows students to explore their creativity. They can design vastly different looking models, while learning engineering skills, assembly steps, and physics.

Here are just some of many topics you can explore with RockSim:

1. Aerodynamics and drag reduction.

2. Forces of flight: Lift, Drag, Thrust, and Gravity.

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