How to Make a Rocket Out of 2 Pop Bottles

You can make a toy rocket that will actually fly.

Toy water rockets are fun and you can make them from a few household and hardware items. You do not need any special skills to make the toy water rocket, just two soda pop bottles and a few hardware parts. An adult should supervise children taking part in the project, since it involves using a portable drill. Your toy water rocket will fly at your command and be ready to fly again within a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Two empty 2-liter soda pop bottles
• 4-inch long, 1/2-inch wide PVC pipe
• Bonding glue
• 1/2-inch diameter PVC pipe cap
• Portable drill
• 1/2-inch drill bit
• Tire valve
• Table clamp vise
• Tire pump
• Duct tape
• Utility knfie
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Put newspaper down on a table. Put the PVC pipe cap down on the newspaper with the closed end facing up.

2. Drill a hole through the center of the cap with the portable drill. Smooth out the hole from the inside using the side of the portable drill.

3. Open the jaws of the table clamp vise. Put the PVC pipe clamp into the jaws with the closed end facing up. Close the jaws.

4. Insert the non-threaded end of the tire valve into the hole in the center of the cap. Push down hard on the tire valve. Release the jaws of the table clamp vise. Remove the PVC pipe cap.

5. Remove the cap from one of the two empty 2-liter soda pop bottles. Fill the empty bottle halfway with tap water.

6. Insert one end of the PVC pipe into the hole of the bottle. Wrap duct tape around the PVC pipe where it meets the hole.

7. Push the end of the tire valve that is inside of of the PVC pipe cap onto the free end of the PVC pipe. Apply bonding glue to secure the PVC pipe to the end of the tire valve. Let the bonding glue dry for a day.

8. Screw the nipple at the end of the hose of the tire pump to the connector on the end of the tire valve. Pump the tire pump 10 times. Unscrew the tire pump from the tire valve.

9. Cut off the bottom of the other empty 2 liter soda pop bottle with the utility knife.

10. Cut off the skinny neck of the empty 2 liter soda pop bottle with the utility knife.

11. Cut a 2 inch wide hole about 4 inches down on one side of the cut-off neck of the empty pop bottle with the utility knife.

12. Place the empty bottle down on a level surface outside. Place the nozzle attached to the other bottle into the hole in the neck of the empty bottle.

13. Put your finger into the hole in the side of the empty pop bottle. Press the release button on the tire valve to fire your water rocket.

14. Retrieve the bottle. Take off the duct tape and remove the PVC pipe. Refill the bottle with water, replace the PVC pipe and reattach it to the bottle with duct tape. Your water rocket is now ready to be fired again.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear protective eye gear when shooting off your toy water rocket.

• Do not shoot your toy water rocket in a populated area or where a lot of people are present.

References

• YouTube: How to make a water rocket

Resources

• NASA: Brief History of Rockets