How Much Water Should Be Put in Bottle Rocket Designs?
Other People Are Reading
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Water Provides Thrust
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Thrust is defined as a change in momentum. That momentum is provided by the water, which is propelled behind the rocket by air pressure within the engine chamber.
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Water Affects the Load Fraction
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Continuing to add water increases the overall weight of the rocket, which will retard its flight. The load fraction, which is the ratio of the weight of the water to the total weight of the rocket, should not be too high or it will limit the rocket's height.
Bottom Line
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It's generally agreed among hobbyists that bottle rockets perform better when there is more air than water within the bottle. In most successful designs, the bottles are filled from one-third to less than halfway with water.
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- Photo Credit hobby rockets image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
