How to Make a Bungee Rocket Go Far
Making a bungee rocket is a fast and affordable way to have fun in your own backyard. Hand-held rockets are attached at the nose with a small piece of bungee cord. One finger loops inside the cord, while the opposite hand pulls back and releases the rocket across the lawn. The trick for making a bungee rocket go far is to shape the toy with enough weight and a proper design.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Straight-edge knife
- High-density neoprene foam
- Permanent epoxy
- Duct tape
- 1/8-inch bungee cord
Instructions
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1
Make the rocket body out of high-density neoprene foam. High-density foam prevents air from entering or passing through the surface -- essential for gliding through the atmosphere. Measure and cut body from a foam tube or sheet to a maximum length of six inches and a three-inch diameter. Roll the sheet -- if you are using a sheet -- into the shape of a dense cylinder to create the rocket body and secure with permanent epoxy.
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2
Shape the nose to resemble a pencil tip -- identical to real rockets. A triangular tip prohibits air resistance and creates better aerodynamics while the rocket is in flight.
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3
Give the rocket three or four fins. Measure and trace the fins into right-angle triangles with soft edges. Make each fin as wide as the diameter of the rocket body -- three inches wide in this case. Evenly space and attach each fin on the opposite end of the body with permanent epoxy. Fins help guide and direct the body as it soars.
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4
Cut and fold a piece of 1/8 inch by four inches bungee cord. Glue the ends of the cord with permanent epoxy. Stuff the ends into the hole -- one inch deep -- at the end of the nose tip. The 1/8-inch cord is thin and flexible enough to accommodate a long pull and strong release.
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5
Cover the entire rocket with one layer of duct tape to add a little extra weight and a totally slick, impenetrable exterior for long distance sailing. Avoid wrinkles or kinks in the tape -- as this can add to the air resistance.
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Tips & Warnings
Never aim bungee rockets at people or animals.
