Jon Jerow, Ryan Hulst

6th Hour Science

Mr. Sportel
Rockets 2010

Number of Fins

Question: How will the number of fins affect the distance a bottle rocket will fly?

Prediction: If we have three fins, then the rocket will go the farthest, because we believe that
provides the best stability, with the least amount of resistance.

Distance Depends on
Number of Fins Distance (Meters) Average Distance
(Meters)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
1 -3 3 2 0.66
2 63 60 65 62.66
3 64 67 74 68.33
4 84 64 79 75.66
5 80 69 76 75
6 82 76 80 79.33
Source: Jon Jerow, Ryan Hulst, Students, May 7, 2010.

Controlled Variables: Launch Angle, Type/Amt. Of Tape, Same Shape of Fins, 100mL in Top
Bottle, 650mL in bottom, Cap on Top Bottle.

Materials: 2 liter pop bottle, 20 oz. Pop bottle, Duct Tape, Ruler, Cardboard, Steady Supply of
Water, Rocket Launcher, Gigantic Tape Measure.

Procedure: 1. Fashion a control rocket according to these guidelines. Duct Tape ends of 2-liter and
20 oz. Together. Cap stays on the 20 oz. Make right triangle fins, 6 inches long, 4 inches out. Duct
tape a single fin to Rocket.

2. Roll out rocket launcher, put 650mL of water in bottom bottle, 100mL in top bottle. Launch
rocket for all three trials at 45º angle, and record distance with gigantic tape measure. Repeat for
two more trials.

4. Add a second fin, launch, record. Repeat two more times.

5. Add a third fin, launch, record. Repeat two more times.

6. Add a fourth fin, launch, record. Repeat two more times.

8. Add a fifth fin, launch, record. Repeat two more times.

9. Add a sixth fin, launch, record. Repeat two more times.

10. Average trials into average column, and then come to a conclusion.

11. Take pictures of finished rocket, so people can see what your best result looks like.

Conclusion: Our conclusion is that Six fins provides the best amount of lift. We had more trials
than recorded for a few, and due to watching others, six is what we've settled on as out best. Also,
by accident, we discovered that very slightly tilted fins help out greatly. The effect is a spiral, but
it catches air and lofts well. If we were to redo the experiment, We would probably try to pick a
day when there was no rain, and less wind. Also, we might've had a better way to insert water,
because when fins were soaked and soggy, the rockets tended not to fly as well. Perhaps a better
material. Despite this, for a control rocket of our specifications, three fins seems to be the best.