Paper Rocket Launcher Simulator

Design and simulate compressed-air paper rockets launched from 1/2" PVC tubes

Trajectory

Muzzle Vel (ft/s)

Max Height (ft)

Range (ft)

Flight Time (s)

Apogee Time (s)

Click legend items to show/hide

Launch

Pressure (psi): 60

Angle: 80°

Launch Tube

Length: 18"

Chamber

Length: 18"

Wind

Speed: 0 mph

Calculated Results

Muzzle Velocity

0 ft/s

Max Distance

0 ft

Flight Time

0 s

Apogee Time

0 s

Impact Velocity

0 ft/s

Terminal Velocity

0 ft/s

Muzzle Energy

0 J

Rocket Mass

0 g

Drag Coefficient

0 Cd

Spin Rate

0 RPM

Chamber:Tube Ratio

0 :1

Stability Margin

0 cal

Rocket Design

▼

Paper Type

Rocket Body Length: 11.5"

6" 18"

Nose Cone

Cone Height: 2"

2"6"

Extra Tape Layers on Cone: 0

010

Extra Nose Weight (stuffing): 0 g

0 g30 g (scrap paper & tape stuffing)

Paper cone taped on with electrical tape. Base slightly larger than rocket body. Stuffing adds forward weight for stability.

Rocket OD matches launch tube OD

Packing Tape Overlay

Heavy-duty packing tape wrapped around the full body for strength

Electrical Tape (Ballast)

Number of Wraps: 7

0 15

Position

3/4" wide electrical tape, ~0.18 mm thick per layer. Nose position moves CG forward for stability.

Paper body:0 g Nose cone:0 g Nose stuffing:0 g Packing tape:0 g Electrical tape:0 g Fins:0 g

Total Rocket Mass: 0 g

Fins

▼

Number of Fins

Fin Shape

Fin Span (in)

Root Chord (in)

Tip Chord (in)

Fin Material

Fin Cant Angle (spin): 3°

0° (no spin) 15°

Spin Stabilization: Canted fins induce roll spin, gyroscopically stabilizing the rocket. 2-5 degrees is typical. Higher cant angles increase drag slightly but improve stability in crosswinds.

Shape	Area Formula	Cd Effect
Triangle	1/2 x span x root	Lowest drag
Trapezoid	1/2 x span x (root+tip)	Moderate drag
Swept Delta	1/2 x span x root	Good supersonic
Clipped Delta	1/2 x span x (root+tip)	Most stable

Chamber

▼

Chamber Pipe Type

Chamber Diameter

Chamber Length: 18"

6" 48"

Operating Pressure (psi): 60

20 psi 150 psi

Chamber ID (in)

Chamber Vol (in³)

Pressure Rating (psi)

Sizing Note: For paper rockets, even a 3/4" chamber provides plenty of volume. Larger chambers store more air but add weight.

Launch Tube & Valve

▼

Launch Tube Size (Sch 40 PVC)

Rocket wraps around the tube. Rocket OD = tube OD = 0.840"

Launch Tube Length: 18"

6" 48"

Launch Angle (°)

80°

0° (horizontal) 90° (vertical)

Valve Selection

QEV Port Size

Dead Space (valve to tube base, in)

Wind Speed (mph): 0

0 (calm) 30 mph

Stability Analysis

▼

Center of Gravity (CG) must be forward of Center of Pressure (CP) for stable flight. Stability margin = (CP - CG) / diameter. Target: 1–2 calibers.

CG from Nose

0 in

CP from Nose

0 in

Stability Margin

0 cal

Total Length

0 in

Pressure vs Performance

▼

Shows how velocity and max height vary with chamber pressure, holding all other parameters constant.

Physics Details

▼

Pneumatic Launch

Chamber Pressure	60 psi
Chamber Volume	0 in³
Launch Tube Volume	0 in³
Volume Ratio (C:B)	0:1
Exit Pressure	0 psi
Adiabatic Work	0 J
Valve Cv	0
Valve Open Time	0 ms
Valve Efficiency	0%
Time in Tube	0 ms

Aerodynamics

Drag Coefficient (Cd)	0
Reference Area	0 in²
Fin Drag Addition	0
Nose Cone Factor	0
Spin Rate	0 RPM
Spin Decay Rate	0 RPM/s
Reynolds Number	0
Terminal Velocity	0 ft/s
Stability Margin	0 cal
CG from nose	0"