Stage 1 Physics

Skills and Applications Task

Kerbal Space Program Rocket Design Challenge

You are a rocket scientist in the Kerbal Space Program. (http://www.kerbaledu.com/)

You are competing with other rocket scientists to design, build, and test the best rocket,
with your ultimate goal of capable of sending a Kerbal into orbit.
Piloting your rocket is very challenging so there is a good chance that you will not
accomplish this goal.
You will iterate your design to the best of your ability. Assessment focuses on your
understanding and articulation of the physics behind your design, failures, and successes.
Your choices in the design process need to be considered and understood so that you can
explain in your report.
Please note: Succeeding at getting your rocket into orbit is not necessary to produce a
successful report.

Lesson Activity

ONE 1. Download the Kerbal Space Program Demo.

Getting started. 2. Getting started. You could:
Collaborative Select training so you can learn construction and flight basics.
learning is Consult the KSP wiki, e.g. Basic Rocket Design (45 minute
encouraged. tutorial)
Search for video tutorials e.g. absolute beginners guide to KSP

TWO & THREE Design, build and test your rocket and understand the physics behind the
Rocket science! rocket. It is expected that you go through prototypes to arrive at your final
design.

FOUR Your report may be presented as

Preparation of the a 5 minute screencast.
report. a slideshow.
Individual Work.
a poster.
Narration or annotations must explain the aspects of your rocket design

FIVE Present to the class - maximum of 5 minutes. Peer feedback on the best
Presentation. design. Best designer to present their rocket design to the whole school
assembly or in a one page synopsis for the school newsletter.

You must consider and explain your choices of components and design using physics
concepts that you have learnt through the topic such as (but not limited to) weight, thrust,
drag, energy, heat, momentum, pressure, speed, acceleration, height, centre of mass,
centre of thrust and centre of lift, rocket staging.
There is 1 week of class time to complete this task.
 Student Name:
Stage 1 Physics
Skills and Applications Task

KSP Rocket Design Challenge

A B C D E

IAE1 Designs a logical, Designs a well- Designs a Prepares the Identifies a

coherent, and considered and considered and outline of a simple procedure
detailed, physics clear physics generally clear physics for a physics I
investigation. investigation. physics investigation. investigation.
investigation.

IAE3 Systematically Logically analyses Undertakes some Describes data Attempts to

analyses and and interprets analysis and and undertakes describe results
interprets data data and interpretation of some basic and/or interpret
and evidence to evidence to data and evidence interpretation to data to formulate
formulate logical formulate suitable to formulate formulate a basic a basic I
conclusions with conclusions with generally conclusion. conclusion.
detailed reasonable appropriate
justification. justification. conclusions with
some justification.

KA1 Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates

deep and broad some depth and knowledge and some basic limited
knowledge and breadth of understanding of a knowledge and recognition and
understanding of knowledge and general range of partial awareness of I
a range of understanding of physics concepts. understanding of physics
physics concepts. a range of physics physics concepts.
concepts. concepts.

KA2 Develops and Develops and Develops and Develops and Attempts to
applies physics applies physics applies physics applies some develop and
concepts highly concepts mostly concepts generally physics concepts apply physics
I
effectively in new effectively in new effectively in new or in familiar concepts in
and familiar and familiar familiar contexts. contexts. familiar contexts.
contexts. contexts.

KA4 Communicates Communicates Communicates Communicates Attempts to

knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and basic physics communicate
understanding of understanding of understanding of information, information about
physics physics mostly physics generally using some physics.
coherently with coherently with effectively, using appropriate
highly effective effective use of some appropriate terms, I
use of appropriate terms, terms, conventions, conventions,
appropriate conventions, and and and/or
terms, representations. representations. representations.
conventions, and
representations.