Experiment Design Diagram for Bottle Rockets

1. Question: Does the amount of water in the bottom of the rocket effect how far the rocket fly's?

2. Hypothesis: If we change the amount of water in the bottom of the rocket to 750 ml, then the rocket
will fly farther than any other amount of water in the bottom of the rocket, because 750 ml is a little
lower than the median amount. This way the weight is not to great, but yet there is still a lot of
propellant in it.

3. Data Table:
Flight Distance Depends on Amount of Water in Bottom Bottle
Amount of Distance Flew Average
Water in Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Distance
Bottom Flew
Bottle
250 ml. 51 57 48 45 50.25
500 ml. 69 66 57 54 61.5
750 ml. 72 78 75 60 71.25
1000 ml. 54 63 48 66 57.75
Source: Ryan Hoek

4. Five Controlled Variables

A. 45º launch angle
B. Same fin shape
C. Same fin amount
D. Same psi launching rocket
E. Cap on top bottle
5. Materials Needed:
A. One two liter bottle
B. One 20 ounce bottle
C. Duct tape
D. Water
E. Launching Device
F. Card board
G. Scissors
H. Graduated Cylinder

6. Procedure:
Step 1: Cut out three right triangle fins. Dimensions six inches up by 4 inches out.
Step 2: Duct tape the three fins approximately 120º away from each other onto the 2 liter bottle.
Step 3: Duct tape the bottom of the 20 ounce bottle to the bottom of the 2 liter bottle.
Step 4: Remove the cap of the 2 liter bottle.
Step 5: Fill the 20 ounce bottle with 100 ml.
Step 6: Fill the 2 liter bottle with the amount specified in the table
Step 7: Set the rocket on the launch pad set at a 45º angle.
Step 8: Record the distance that if flew
Step 9: Repeat steps 6-8 changing the amount in the 2 liter rocket.

7. Conclusion:
My hypothesis was that 750 ml. would make the rocket fly farther than any other amount of
water. My data shows that my hypothesis matches what actually happened. The distance flown with
1000 ml. in the bottom bottle was on average was 57.75 meters. The distance flown with 750 ml. in the
bottom bottle on average was 71.25 meters. 500 ml. translated to an average of 61.5 meters. 250 ml. in
the bottom bottle flew on average 50.25 meters.
If I would do this experiment again, I would change a couple of things to make the tests similar.
One thing is the weather. On one day it was really windy and the next it was perfectly calm. The wind
probably effected the distance that the rocket flew. Another thing I would change is the air pressure. It
was hard to make sure that you consistently put the same amount of air into the rocket.