======Bottle Rocket======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
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**Alternative titles:** Pop Bottle Rocket, Water Rocket
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====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  -Construct or purchase a pop bottle rocket launcher and set it up in an open outdoor area.
  -Attach fins and a nose cone made from lightweight materials (such as cardboard or foam) to a 2L pop bottle.
  -Pour about 300–400 mL of water into the bottle.
  -Secure the bottle onto the launcher nozzle, making sure it is locked in place.
  -Ensure all observers are at least 3–5 meters away.
  -Assign one person as the “pumper” and another as the “launcher”.
  -Use a hand pump to add air pressure into the bottle, not exceeding 40 psi.
  -Conduct a countdown and release the launch mechanism to propel the rocket upward.
  -Observe the rocket’s flight path and landing.



====Links==== 
DIY STEM Project For Kids: How To Make A Bottle Rocket - Virtual Club: 
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Science at Home - SE1 - EP18: Water Bottle Rockets - The Sci Guys: 
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📄 Pop Bottle Rocket, Part I: Action and Reaction - Science World: [[https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/pop-bottle-rocket-part-i-action-and-reaction/]]\\


====Variations====
  *Try different bottle sizes to see which travels higher.
  *Experiment with fin shapes and nose cone designs to improve stability and flight path.
  *Vary the amount of water in the bottle to investigate how mass affects flight.
  *A ball pump and a cork can also be inserted straight into a soda bottle partly filled with water, but the person launching will get wet.
  *Try fitting a parachute to the bottle.




====Safety Precautions====
  *Do not launch indoors.
  *Always supervise launchers.
  *Maintain a clear safety zone around the launcher.
  *Be careful of the bottle tipping over, it can fire at people with a large force.
  *If the bottle doesn't launch then release pressure before touching.
  *Watch the entire rocket flight to avoid accidental impact.
  *Retire bottles after a few flights or if damaged.




====Questions to Consider====
  *Would larger or smaller soda bottles go higher? (Larger bottles can hold more air, but may also be heavier; results depend on design.)
  *How could we measure and compare the rocket heights? (Using a meter stick, a marked pole, or by timing flight duration and estimating height.)
  *How does increasing the air pressure affect flight? (Greater pressure produces more thrust, leading to higher acceleration and flight.)
  *What role does the amount of water play in the rocket’s performance? (Too little water reduces thrust, too much water adds mass; an optimal balance is needed.)
  *Why does the rocket fly straighter with fins? (Fins stabilize the rocket by reducing tumbling and helping it maintain direction.)