Here's a simple and inexpensive way to get a fair estimate. There are three diagrams, so expand the extended entry to read the surprisingly easy method we use.
1
Mark I Eyeball only has three measurements, tho: High, Really High, and Hey, God! Little help?
Heh. OK, that's my lame attempt at rocket humour. And I haven't even taken any cold medicine!
Posted by: Victor at January 03, 2004 12:29 PM (16A49)
2
Dang, I thought I invented that device!
After your post about Air Munuvia's maiden voyage I wondered how you could determine how high it went. "Easy," I thought, "just measure the vertical side of the right triangle by looking along it's hypontenuse from a known length of the horizontal side!" (I never got around to writing up a table, though.)
This is as disappointing as the time when I was in K-mart, aged 9, and discovered that my battery-heated socks idea had already been invented.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at January 03, 2004 07:04 PM (QMRJ/)
3
Also, that system is accurate only if the rocket climbs perfectly vertically. It would be a good idea (if you really want an accurate measurement in the case of a competition, say) to have someone else with a perpendicular view to measure the angle from the launchpad to the rocket at apogee.
If the rocket curves toward the tracker then the reading with show that the rocket had reached higher altitude than it actually reached; and it curves away from the tracker then the reading would understate the true altitude.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at January 03, 2004 07:15 PM (QMRJ/)
4
psst... Spork... last paragraph.
Posted by: Ted at January 03, 2004 07:42 PM (2sKfR)
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D'oh! I guess I stopped reading too soon.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at January 03, 2004 11:00 PM (QMRJ/)
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Easiest way to tell how high a rocket went is to launch it indoors.
WhooshCRUNCH!
"About eight foot six, wouldn't you say?"
Posted by: Pixy Misa at January 04, 2004 08:09 PM (kOqZ6)
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