Sparking Curiosity. Creating Leaders.
Water Bottle Rocket
Launch your own rocket right from your backyard! Explore the principles of thrust, pressure, and aerodynamics as you experiment with water, air, and design modifications to see how high and far your rocket can go.
Introduction
Water bottle rockets are a fun and safe way to explore real rocket science. Using just a plastic bottle, water, and an air pump, you can test how different amounts of water, air pressure, and fin or nose designs affect flight height, distance, and stability. This project demonstrates the basic principles of propulsion, Newton’s Third Law, and aerodynamics in an engaging, hands-on way.
Materials Needed
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Empty plastic bottle (2 L pop bottle)
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Water
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Bicycle pump or air compressor
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Cork or stopper to hold pressure
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Cardboard or plastic for fins (optional)
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Tape or glue for assembly
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Safety goggles (highly recommended!)
Thrust
When you launch a water bottle rocket, it moves because of thrust, the force generated when pressurized air pushes water out of the bottle. The rapid expulsion of water propels the rocket upward, while gravity pulls it back down. By experimenting with the amount of water, air pressure, and fin or nose designs, you can see how these factors affect flight height, distance, and stability. This simple hands-on project demonstrates real rocket principles used in aerospace engineering, including propulsion, Newton’s Third Law, and aerodynamics.
Intructions:
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Fill up your bottle partially with water (about halfway up; no need to be percise!).
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If you want, decorate your rocket with fins, designs, a cone, etc.
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Place the bottle on the launch platform or stand it upside-down and pump air into the bottle to pressurize it.
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Release the cork to launch the rocket and watch it fly! Record flight height, distance, and stability.
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You can modify the amount of water, fin design, or nose shape and test again.
