Model Rocket Launch Day: Unit Checks

Use equivalent ratios to convert measurements and solve launch-day problems.

Launch-Day Measurement Log

Use the conversion reference throughout the worksheet. Write numerical answers in the units shown.

Conversion Reference
Unit	Equivalent amount
1 meter (m)	100 centimeters (cm)
1 kilometer (km)	1,000 meters (m)
1 kilogram (kg)	1,000 grams (g)
1 liter (L)	1,000 milliliters (mL)
1 minute (min)	60 seconds (s)
1 hour (h)	60 minutes (min)

The launch team records marker distances in equivalent units.

Marker Distances
Meters	Centimeters
1	100
2	200
3.5	?
5	500

How many centimeters equal 3.5 meters? cm

A model rocket has a mass of 0.75 kg.

What is its mass in grams? g

A recorded flight lasts 150 seconds.

How many minutes is that? min

A launch rail is 240 cm long. Which calculation correctly converts its length to meters?

A. Multiply 240 by 100 to get 24,000 m.B. Divide 240 by 100 to get 2.4 m.C. Divide 240 by 1,000 to get 0.24 m.D. Multiply 240 by 10 to get 2,400 m.

A tracking map shows a distance of 1.2 km from the launch point.

What is this distance in meters? m

Equipment and Rate Calculations

Use multiplication or division and convert units as needed. Show your calculations beside each problem.

The team joins six lengths of boundary tape. Each length is 12.5 m. There are no gaps or overlaps.

What is the total length in centimeters? cm

For a water-rocket demonstration, the team has 2.4 L of water. Each trial uses 150 mL.

How many complete trials can the water supply? trials

A rocket descends under a parachute at an average rate of 180 meters per minute. What is that rate in meters per second?

A. The rate is 10,800 meters per second.B. The rate is 30 meters per second.C. The rate is 0.3 meter per second.D. The rate is 3 meters per second.

Eight identical equipment cases each have a mass of 0.6 kg.

What is their combined mass in grams? g

10.

At the water-rocket station, a tap fills a container at a constant rate of 2,400 mL per minute. The tap runs for 45 seconds.

How many liters of water enter the container? L

Check the Launch Plan

Choose compatible units before calculating. For the explanation, include the corrected calculation.

11.

A team has a 3 m roll of cord. Each model rocket needs one 45 cm piece. Ignore any cord lost during cutting.

What is the greatest number of complete pieces the team can cut? pieces

12.

Two rockets land along the same straight line from the launch point. Amira's rocket lands 0.8 km away, and Luis's rocket lands 950 m away.

How much farther from the launch point does Luis's rocket land? m

13.

An equipment mat is 2 m long and 50 cm wide. Dev calculates 2 × 50 = 100 and reports an area of 100 m². Explain the unit error and find the correct area in square meters.

14.

During part of its return, a rocket descends 900 m in 1.5 minutes.

What is its average descent rate in meters per second? m/s