DESCRIPTION:

Students will design, construct, and launch a rocket to stay aloft the greatest amount of time.

CONSTRUCTION:

1. Students will construct a rocket made from a two-liter plastic carbonated beverage bottle with an approximately 2.2 cm (internal diameter) nozzle.
2. The bottles may not use extenders that increase the 2 L volume.
3. No commercial rocket parts may be used.
4. The structural integrity of the bottle may not be altered intentionally (cutting, sanding, etc.) or unintentionally (using using hot glues or superglues, etc.). Adhesive may be used to attach fins and other components but must be limited to glue such as silicone adhesive, polyurethane-based adhesives, and others that do not damage the structural integrity of the pressure vessel (bottle).
5. Metal may be used, but may only be attached directly to the cone or fins. Metal may not touch the pressure vessel at any time.
6. For safety reasons, rockets may not use sharp or pointed metal components or leading surfaces consisting of a rigid spike.
7. The total mass of the rocket and recovery device may not exceed 400 grams.
8. The maximum extended length of the rocket and its components shall not exceed 2 meters.
9. A propulsive energy imparted to the rocket must originate from the water/air pressure combination (not to exceed 60 pounds per square inch). Other forms of potential and kinetic energy may be used for deployment of rocket components. No remote controls, pyrotechnics or pressurized gases (except for the original air pressure) may be used at all.
10. This project requires glide recovery. Glide recovery devices may include wings, helicopters, and/or backslider recovery systems. No parachutes or streamers are allowed. Wings or helicopter rotors must be made from rigid materials or have a rigid perimeter and tight covering.

DESIGN PROCESS & TESTING REQUIREMENTS:

1. Your procedure must not involve any safety hazard. Goggles must be worn during testing. Goggles and adult supervision are required while tools are being used.
2. A project proposal must be approved and signed by the teacher before construction begins.
3. Quantitative tests (thrust measurements, drag measurements, video analysis of launch acceleration, etc.) must be used to inform decisions made (wing shape, placement of ballast, etc.) during the design process. These must be documented in the report.
4. Unless all testing data and the final evaluation are perfect (not likely), evidence must be shown that design changes were made based on quantitative tests.

LAUNCH TRIAL:

1. Goggles must be worn during watering and launching.
2. All rockets will be launched using the launcher provided by the teacher. It is the students' responsibility to ensure that their rocket is capable of launching from this launcher. To insure the rocket will fit on the launcher, fins and other parts should not extend below the flange on the bottle's neck.
3. All rockets will be launched at a pressure requested by the students, not to exceed 60 pounds per square inch. Once the rocket is pressurized, no one may touch or approach the rocket.
4. Timing of the rocket stops when the first part of the rocket hits the ground, when the rocket disappears from the timing timer's sight, or when the rocket comes to rest on an object.
5. Only one launch is allowed.
6. Though various rocket components may separate during the flight, all must remain linked together.

SCORING:

1. All rocket launch times will be recorded to the nearest hundredth of a second.
2. Rockets that violate a construction rule may not be allowed to launch at all.

REPORT:

Reports will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Presentation of Physical Concepts

· Introduced the relevant physical principles (and historical background when appropriate) completely and clearly

· Kinematics and dynamics accurately represented throughout (symbols, graphs, text, data, equations)

· Accurately described/defined relevant quantities (d, v, a, F, etc.)

Design Process and Analysis

· Demonstrated careful and thorough planning

· Quantitative tests conducted during the design process

· Quantitative tests used to inform decisions made during the design process

· Used a logical method to effectively manipulate materials during design/construction

· Used a logical method to effectively manipulate materials and instruments during testing

· Interpreted/analyzed data logically and correctly

Communication

· Submitted a formal report containing all the required sections

· Submitted an attractively formatted, completely word-processed lab report

· Electronically inserted a picture or diagram into the report

· Presented and organized data in table (and graph, where appropriate) form

· Data collection/reporting was accurate and complete

· Showed complete quantities with units

· Presented information and analysis in an easy-to-follow format and writing style

· Gave a clear interpretation/analysis of test and evaluation data

· Clearly states the purpose of the work

· Proposed an appropriate and succinct concluding evaluation

· Followed rules of grammar, sentence construction, and punctuation; minimum of spelling errors

Teamwork and Cooperation

· Met intermediate deadlines set by the teacher; came to class prepared, used class time effectively

· All members were helpful and respectful to each other

· All members participated and made a significant input

Resource:

Robert Youens Water Rocket Page