How to Make Water Rockets

If you're looking for a fun activity that allows you to spend quality time with your children, get them out of the house and maybe teach them something at the same time, building water rockets might be for you. Water rockets are a fun way to teach children about science while enjoying a fun outdoor activity. This project can be made with ordinary items that you most likely have around the house already, and will give you and your child the satisfaction of building something yourselves.

Things You'll Need

• 3 2 liter bottles
• Corrugated cardboard
• Duct tape or strapping tape
• Scissors
• Utility knife
• Hot glue gun
• Paper, preferably card stock
• O-ring, preferably 15/16 inside dimension x 1 1/8 outside dimensions
• Permanent marker

Instructions

1. Select the 2 liter bottles that is in the best condition. Make sure that it is free of scratches and dents. This is the bottle that you will use for the motor.

2. Use the utility knife to cut off the cap ring of the bottle. Slip the O-ring onto the neck of the 2 liter bottle. The O-ring should be fitted below the bottle's threads.

3. Select a second 2 liter bottle to be used for a fin ring. Use a permanent marker to mark lines on the bottle for the three fins that you will be applying. Mark the bottle to show where you will cut it to make your fin ring. You will need a 3 1/2-inch section of the bottle for the fin ring.

4. Cut the fin ring from the second 2 liter bottle with a utility knife. Next cut three fins from the corrugated cardboard. The fins should not exceed 3 1/2 inches in length. Glue the fins to the sides of the fin ring, using the lines that you previously marked. After the glue has dried, slip the fin ring onto the 2 liter bottle that you are using as the motor. It should be a snug fit and should not slip off.

5. Mark the third 2 liter bottle with a line showing you where to cut. Cut the bottom of the bottle off so that you can use this bottle for the body of the rocket. Cut the bottom from the bottle and then cut off the neck. This should be done right below the bottle’s neck, where the plastic starts thinning on the bottle.

6. Slip the body of the rocket on the bottle you are using for the motor. Again, the pieces should be a snug fit.

7. Construct a nose cone with the top of the bottle that you cut off to make the motor and your thick paper. Cardstock will work nicely to make the nosecone. The nosecone can be your own design or your child’s. The key is to make sure that it covers the top part of the rocket and comes to a point at the top. Using the hot glue gun, glue the paper around the top of the two liter bottle and allow it to dry.

8. Fit together the body of your rocket to the motor, making sure that they are aligned and not crooked. Use either duct tape or strapping tape to hold the pieces together. Strapping tape will give you a cleaner look.

9. Attach the fin ring to the body of the rocket, at the bottom. Again, make sure the pieces align. Use the duct tape or strapping tape to attach the pieces. You are now ready to place your rocket onto a water rocket launcher and send it flying into space.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that the utility knife leaves nice straight edges when cutting the 2 liter bottles.

• Depending on the age of the children helping with the project, make sure that they do not use the utility knife or the scissors without your supervision.