Trial #1

Today, we had our first trial for launching 2-Liter bottle rockets. It went successfully and we were able to launch the bottle on our first attempt. Because there were no modifications made to the rockets, each group's rocket was the same in the initial attempt. First, we filled our bottle up with a little bit of water (about 1/5 of the way full) and prepared the rocket's launch pad. A metal stand planted in the ground held our platform upright, while a clasp held the bottle in place on top. We pumped the bottle until the pressure in the bottle reached 150 atm and pulled the relapse clip after a *dramatic countdown. Our bottle did launch successfully, although didn't stay in the air for more than a few seconds (4-5), a far cry from the minimum 10 seconds. Hopefully, our additions and modifications to our rocket in class tomorrow will help improve our results:)

First Launch

Today was our first attempt at launching the water bottle rocket. Mr. Blake explained what we had to do and demonstrated the task as well. There were no modifications that we made on this rocket. It was simply just the two-liter soda bottle. There is not much to say about this launch, it was pretty straight forward. Everyone did it the same way. Filing the bottle up a quarter of the way with water and having an air pressure of approximately of 50 did give our water bottle rocket great height. Definite modifications need to made to the rocket, though, to keep it up in the air for a longer period of time. Though I do not know for sure how long it was in the air, it most likely was not the minimum 10 seconds needed. (Brenna Efta)

Water Bottle Rockert -instructions

This site provides easy to understand step-by-step instructions. It also includes videos and separate pictures so that the people attempting to make the water bottle rocket may have a visual aid when making their rocket. It goes in to great detail so that one will not mess up. It gives additional details about launching, like what angle it should be at to have the furthest distance and which angle will have the greatest height. At the bottom of the website it includes links to other websites that give more information and provide alternative methods to making one’s rocket fly; like creating a parachute. It also includes a logical physics explanation as to why the rocket will fly. (Brenna Efta)
http://www.tclauset.org/21_BtlRockets/BTL.html