The rocket men and women of Warrawong High School put their aeronautical skills to the test on Friday as they built and launched bottle rockets and propeller-powered planes high into the air.
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Organised by the Institute of Industrial Arts Technology Education and hosted by the University of Wollongong, the Aeronautical Velocity Challenge pitted four schools from across the state against each other to earn bragging rights for the rocket that travelled the furthest, highest and most precisely.
Energy levels were high as the years 7 and 8 students prepared for launch, with two teams at a time testing out their home-made creations.
Steve Delaney, head teacher of TAS, art and music at Warrawong, said the challenge taught students teamwork and quick critical thinking.
The hands-on component gave the students a better understanding of how abstract mathematical and design concepts took shape in the real world, he said.
The institute hopes to open the competition to all schools across NSW next year.