Water Bottle Rocket Experiment
Pour about an inch worth of vinegar into the bottom of the bottle.
Water bottle rocket experiment. The liquid firing out of the bottle pushes it further just like the gases coming out of a real rocket. Decorate the bottle with the cone and fins. A water bottle rocket is a type of model rocket that uses water as the reaction mass. Cycle shops will often give away old punctured ones a pump that fits the valve.
This rocket project is suitable for ages 8 and up with adult supervision and should take less than 20 minutes to build. Cardboard or balsa fins are attached to the bottom of the bottle for stability and a fairing and nose cone are added to the top as a payload. These rockets use pressurized air and water to fly hundreds of feet in the air and make a great science project for use at home or in the classroom. More explanation on that later.
The water is forced out by compressed or pressurized air. This is how your bottle rocket works. First let us get the facts right. Experiment with different types of tablets different bottle shapes and the temperature of the water.
Researchers use rocketry to understand the principles of newton s law of motion. As you pump air into the bottle the pressure inside builds up this air pushes out in all directions including downwards on the bung. Pump air into the bottle making sure all spectators stand. Bottle rockets are often used in science as an experimental apparatus.
Technology working in teams students construct a simple bottle rocket from two liter soft drink bottles and other materials. The body of the rocket is an empty plastic two liter soda bottle. They can be used in science olympiads. You need to get the physics of air and water pressure right if you want this experiment to be a success.
Prior to launch the body of the rocket is filled with water to some desired amount typically about 40 of the volume. Take the bottle outside and connect the pump to the needle adaptor. One 2 litre plastic fizzy drink bottle a wine cork that fits snugly in the bottle spout a valve from a bicycle inner tube the longer the valve the better. The rocket is powered by air pressure and water.
Water rocket construction 376kb pdf file. The rocket is pushing water downwards which means that the water pushes the rocket upwards so hard that it overcomes gravity and will fly. Water rockets are among the simplest type of rocket that a student encounters. Fill the bottle one quarter full of water and push the cork in tightly.
How to make a bottle rocket. You can do this free science activity at home with just some bottles and fizzy headache vitamin tablets. Hand pumps or foot pumps are fine something that can hold the.