Soda Bottle Rocket Project websites
(Feel free to use these or others)
1) Site with video explanations http://www.tclauset.org/21_BtlRockets/BTL.html
2) For Mr. Mattys’ Class: Site good for a project that includes an egg that is carried by the rocket. http://www.schemmscience.com/physics/labs/sodabottlerox.pdf
3) Power Point with pictures giving tips on how to build a bottle rocket http://www.docstoc.com/docs/7187759/How-to-Build-a-Water-Bottle-Rocket
4) Animated simulation where you change different parts of the rocket and see how it affects the rocket’s flight http://www.ohio4h.org/sciencealive/rocketsaway.html
5) Site that has a cool rocket with picture and labels, but is a bit technical in language. Check with teacher to see if this 1.5 bottle design fits project guidelines http://www.h2orocket.com/topic/favorite/slide.html
6) See Google Images or YouTube ‘how to build a soda bottle rocket’
7) Video of different rockets that they tried to make the world record http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G3hMrqJxHw&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
8) How to make a bottle rocket article, with description of making a parachute. Has diagrams http://www.ehow.com/how_2305206_build-bottle-rocket-parachute.html
General ideas for changing design
A) Make the tail fins longer, and somewhat thin, so that they reach all the way to the ground and help the bottle to ‘stand up’ on the ground.
B) Use about 1250 mililiters of water
C) Put a wooden lightweight stick (called a dowel) into the mouth of the bottle. Use glue or tape to keep it attached. This makes the rocket taller.
D) Add a parachute for bottle rockets that carry eggs. See the website mentioned in #2 above
E) Make a nose cone from cutting a plastic bottle, and make it long to make the rocket taller.
F) Mr. Mattys’ class: Longer fins will make it fly faster, but they also make it fall faster (which could break an egg if it’s on the rocket) You could add a lightweight foam to make it fall without breaking the egg.
Bottle Rocket Design Considerations
Step 2: Research
The second step in the Engineering Design Process is Research. You can study existing solutions to see if you can develop a better idea. The information below will be our research. Feel free to research other sources. For Ideas:
Fuselage – The main body of the rocket
· A rocket with a long, slim fuselage (body) usually has more stability and is less likely to swerve if the rocket is designed and built well. A shorter, wider rocket is less stable.
· A 2 liter soda bottle’s stability can be improved if you add a top section made from part of a second soda bottle.
· A 2 liter soda bottle rocket made from a single bottle can be made quite stable if you make good fins and a nose cone, and if you add some mass to the nose cone.
Fins
· Well designed and placed fins keep the rocket going up. If they are too small, they won’t keep the rocket from moving sideways. If they are very large, they will slow it down.
· You can choose the number of fins. 3 or 4 fins usually work best.
· NO BATMAN WINGS
· Fins that are wider at the bottom work best. A triangular shape is easiest to mount on the bottle and makes it stable. Feel free to experiment with your own fin design, but make sure that the fins are designed to be solidly attached to the fuselage.
· Fins can be made of file folders or thick or thin foamcore. Both work equally well. If you are doing a spinner design, thin foamcore is recommended.
· Fins must be solidly attached using duct tape. Mark the locations of your fins first, then get help from another student as you attach them. Be sure that they are put on straight and that they are put on evenly around the fuselage/body.
· Fins should be solidly mounted on the lower part of the fuselage to work well. The Center of Pressure of the fins should be below the Center of Gravity (CG) of the rocket. You can estimate the Center of Pressure by looking at the fin and seeing where the middle of the fin area is. You can find the CG by balancing the rocket on your fingertips.
Nose Cone and Recovery System
· You have four main choices:
1) Tumble or gliding descent - (Good for carrying an egg) If you can design and build a rocket that can tumble or glide down, you will have the advantages of simplicity and good flight characteristics with little damage. This is a hard option to make work well but it can be successful.
2) Fixed nose cone, no recovery system – The nose cone is permanently taped to the top of the rocket. This is simple and has the least mass but the rocket usually lands hard. Often rockets can land a couple of times before the nose cone needs replacement.
3) Shock-absorbing nose – This prevents damage to your rocket on landing. You may use a tennis ball, a nerf ball, foam or sponges, etc. These may be inside a regular nose cone. You must bring your own tennis ball or other shock-absorbing materials! Or tell Mr. MacNamara by Friday if you need something.
3) Nose cone with parachute – This can be difficult to make work well. It helps the rocket fly well and also helps it get back on the ground with little damage. The parachute and nose cone must be solidly attached to the top of the rocket.
The key to success is to have the nose cone and parachute stay in place as the rocket goes up, then fall off and open up as the rocket turns over and starts down. If the nose cone moves or falls off as the rocket rises, the rocket will slow down or go off course. Your teacher can show you some ways to make this work well.
You can also use a plastic streamer instead of a full parachute. It is simpler to make. It doesn’t slow the rocket down as much as a parachute, but it will help reduce damage on landing.
· Unless you use a tennis ball, you will want to add some mass to the upper end of your rocket to improve stability. Adding mass to the nose cone will improve stability and may help the recovery system open up as the rocket turns over at the top of its flight. You can put clay in the top of your cone.