Watch the Slow Motion Burn-Off Stages of This DIY Rocket Model

Because it will be super expensive to experiment on a real rocket model, YouTuber Warped Perception has taken the matter into his own hands and build rocket models by himself then put them to the test. This see through rocket model, made from DIY materials, simulates what occurs in a real booster burn off. Recorded in 4K slow motion, there is plenty to learn from in this 10-minute video.

From his previous video upload in YouTube, Warped Perception has already experimented on model rockets. However, those previous rocket versions have been cut in half and hence, does not fully simulate a burn-off. So, once again, he builds a tiny rocket model from scratch in a tutorial style and reveals to the watchers the various components in his model. Quick cutting tip from the model rocket builder: If you need to cut through glass tubes just use a cheap tile saw.

Ok, since many of us here are engineers and/or technically inclined individuals, we will attempt to provide our own rocket analysis through observation. Kudos to Warped Perception for also including the ultra slow motion version of the rocket burn-off as we are able to see what really happens after the booster is ignited. If you skip through to the 4:46-minute mark, you will see a small group of vortices building up at the butt-end of the rocket. These vortices add up to the atmospheric aerodynamic drag and as a result, require most rockets to have more thrust in order to lift off. The coolest part of the ultra slow motion video is in the actual stage burn-offs. On the first stage burn (5:18 until 5:33 minutes), the rocket exerts a thrust of 2,500 fps then loses some energy. This is quickly followed by the second stage burn at 5:34 minutes where you can see the inside of the rocket igniting by itself again producing a larger thrust of 6,000 fps. Compared to his last model rocket experiment, the burn's thrust this time is much finer but still project in a triangular shape, which consequently dictates the shape of a rocket's butt-end. Pretty much like the shapes of real rockets. Thanks to Warped Perception for educating us with those visuals, we are now slightly knowledgeable when it comes to rocket science.

Via Warped Perception