model rockets?

Question

what could happen to a rocket that would cause it to go higher then expected?

Answer 1

lots of things

Answer 2

If you want to know how you could MAKE a rocket go higher, you could use lighter material, more fuel, etc.

But, if you want to know what could make a rocket go higher without the intentions of its creators, there are several things:

- it may chance upon an upward drift

- the pressure at a certain altitude may vary (i would guess lower pressures would result in better range)

- the temperature of air could make the fuel burn more efficiently than expected

- if the fuel burns faster than expected, this would result in a faster momentum change, and since the weight of the rocket decreases at a faster rate it could go higher

these are just speculations, i never had a model rocket

Answer 3

All sorts of things. The engine could be firing "hot," which is a slang term for producing more thrust than expected (because of variabilities in the amount of propellant or dimensions of the nozzle, among many other things).
If the aerodynamics are better than expected (less skin drag, flight through laminar airflow, maybe less humidity), the rocket can go higher.
If the payload and associated recovery system (wadding and parachute) weigh less than expected....

Lots of things...