Effect of Fins on Bottle Rockets and Notes on Fins

Effect of Fins on Bottle Rockets and Notes on Fins The goal of the fins is to insure the stability of the rocket, by pulling the center of pressure (CP) at about 1 diameter of the rocket under the center of gravity (CG). To do that, we can act either on the area of the fins or on their position toward the center of gravity. The lower the fins will be, the less the area of …

…more effective. The size, shape, and number of fins effects the stability of the rocket in flight. It is important for the fins to be even in size. Placing a slight angle on the fins will cause the rocket to spin in flight increasing its stability but also increasing its drag. If the fins are angled, they will also cause the rocket to spin when it is in descent, helping to achieve a smoother landing.