How to Make a Pop Bottle Rocket With Water

Make a pop bottle rocket that launches into the air by way of water combined with air pressure. By arranging and attaching the components of the rocket correctly, pop bottles can be transformed into an impressive science experiment for school or just for fun. No previous knowledge of aerodynamics is required for building a rocket that soars tens of feet or more into the sky. Turn soda pop bottles into a rocket within an hour or less.

Things You'll Need

• 2 two-liter soda bottles
• Scissors
• Strapping tape
• Printer paper
• Scotch tape
• Permanent marker
• Set of folding doors(for fin alignment)
• Plastic two pocket folder
• Ruler
• Contact cement
• Rubber band ball
• Poster board
• Scale
• 1 liter water
• Launcher
• Bicycle pump

Instructions

1. Prepare the empty soda bottles. Cut the labels with a pair of scissors, then peel them off. Cut the plastic retainer ring at the top of both bottles. Wrap a thick band around the first bottle's middle twice with strapping tape..

2. Cut two pieces of printer paper in half length-wise, and then tape them together with scotch tape, length-wise again. Tape one end of the paper to the center of the second two liter bottle. Wrap the paper around the circumference of the bottle, and then make a mark where the paper overlaps the starting point with a marker.

3. Divide the circumference of the bottle, which was just measured, into thirds. Reattach the marked paper to the bottle and take note of where the thirds of circumference are located. Mark these three locations on the bottle with a marker.

4. Open a set of folding doors to their 45 degree position. Place the bottle against the crack, and draw a line on the bottle at each third circumference mark, using the door as a guide. Be careful not to write on the door while marking for each fin.

5. Build three fins for the rocket by cutting their shapes out of a plastic two pocket folder from your local office supply store. Fold a piece of printer paper in half from top to bottom, and then use the ruler and marker to draw out a triangle. Trace around the paper template, then cut it out with scissors.

6. Attach the two inner sides of each fin contact cement. Paint the contact cement on using the included brush, then hold the two sides together with your fingertips until it dries.

7. Attach each fin to the bottle along the marked lines with strapping tape. Do not tape the fins to where they extend below where the bottle ends, or it will not fit on top of the launcher.

8. Cut the base of the second two liter bottle about two inches from the bottom, and insert the rubber band ball towards the bottle's spout. Push the cut bottom piece into the body of the bottle upside down, and then tape the bottom piece inside of the body of the bottle with strapping tape to hold it into place.

9. Make the nose cone with a piece of poster board. Warp the poster board's edges over top each other so that it forms a coned-shape, then tape it together using the strapping tape. .

10. Insert the top of the first bottle into the cut bottom on the second bottle, then tape them together with strapping tape.

11. Measure the weight of the rocket to verify that it is within the 200-240 g range. If it is under or over, add or remove rubber bands to the rubber band ball which was inserted earlier, re-tape the rocket.

12. Fill the rocket with a liter of water, and then insert the stopper. Insert the bottom of the rocket into the launcher, and the bicycle pump onto the other end of the launcher. Start pumping and wait as the pressure builds, eventually making the rocket launch into the air.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure never to aim the rocket towards other people, windows, or pets. Otherwise, injuries may occur.

References

• TCLauset: How to Build a "Water-Powered Bottle Rocket" Using Two 2-Liter Soda Bottles