Lane Ellens Austin Conklin

Experimental Diagram 1

Question: How does the amount of water in the top bottle affect the distance a bottle will go?

Hypothesis: If there is more water in the top, the weight will be more balanced and fly better.

Data Table: Distance depends on amount of water in top

Distance for Shot 1 …...........Shot 2 …..............Shot 3 Average
0mL 75 93 15 63
Control (100mL) 48 54 52 51.33
400mL 39 39 36 38
150mL 55 74 64 64.33
Source: Lane and Austin

Y: Average distance (meters)

X: Amount of water in top bottle (mL)

Controlled Variables:
1: Water measuring device
2: Size of fins
3: 45º launch angle
 4: Duct Tape
5: Number of Fins
6: Top Cap on
Materials:
1: 2 Liter Bottle
2: 20oz bottle w/ cap
3: Water measuring device
4: Water
5: Duct Tape
6: Bottle rocket launching device
7: Brain
8: Cardboard (6” by 4”) cut in half diagonally
Making the Rocket: Take the small pop bottle and line up the grooves in the bottom of the 2 liter with
it. These will fit together nicely. Then duct tape them together securely. Place the three fins equally far
apart on the 2 liter pop bottle with the point going towards the top. These fins must be perpendicular to
the direction of the bottle.
Launching Procedure: Fill the bottles to the marked areas for what your trial requires and launch it at
45º. Record distance in table.

Conclusion: Our data is not very conclusive because of the uncontrolled variable of wind. The speed
and mainly the direction of the wind changed everything. For example without the wind against the
rocket it flew much farther with 0mL in top than any other one. But with the wind it barely flew at all.
Despite these problems we learned that 150mL in top works well in most conditions. Which did in fact
fit our hypothesis.

Pictures on Next Page