Rocket Nozzles and Fluid Flow Measurement

In the movie October Sky Jake Gyllenhaal plays a high school student determined to win the science fair with a rocket built by him and his friends.  Their big breakthrough comes when they find in a book the design for a rocket nozzle.  Rocket nozzles are now used in some capacity in every chemical rocket as well as some electrical propulsion systems.  In my talk I will go over the theory behind why rocket nozzles affect fluid flows the way they do.  I will outline what factors are important in designing effective rocket nozzles.  I will pay special attention to why rocket nozzles are crucial in modern propulsion systems.  Additionally, I will discuss several methods for measuring fluid flows and the various pros and cons of each method.  My last topic will be examining the use of a magnetic rocket nozzle in the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket.