Home Sign Up!

Browse Community Submit

All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Photo Ride Science Tech

Water Bottle Rockets

by amercuri on March 22, 2011

Table of Contents

Water Bottle Rockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Intro:

Water Bottle Rockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Step 1:

Materials and Tools for Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Step 2:

Prepare the Bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Step 3: Print out

the Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Step 4:

Make the Fins and Nose Cone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Step 5: Form

the Nose Cone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Step 6: Attach Nose

Cone to Bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Step 7: Tape the Fins to the

Bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Step 8: Fly your Rocket . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/
Intro: Water Bottle Rockets
These instructions detail the steps involved in building a water bottle rocket. These rockets use pressurized air and water to fly hundreds of feet in the air, and make a
great science project for use at home or in the classroom.

This rocket project is suitable for ages 8 and up with adult supervision, and should take less than 20 minutes to build.

WARNINGS
• Never launch your rocket in a busy area, an empty field is a good place.
• Never attempt to retrieve a rocket which has landed in power lines or in another dangerous situation.
• Never launch your rocket in any direction but straight up.
• Never over pressurize your rocket, follow the pressurization instructions of your launcher.
• The writers of these instructions assume no liability for your safety, please use common sense and caution when launching a rocket.

Step 1: Materials and Tools for Instructions

All of these materials can be found at your local department or office supply store.

Materials for Construction

• 1 liter plastic bottle
• 2 manila file folders
• 1 roll of clear packaging tape
• 1 rocket printout, found in Step 3

Tools for Construction

• scissors--WARNING never use scissors without adult supervision.
• marker
• a microwave or stove to heat water--WARNING never use kitchen appliances without adult supervision. Never leave your stove or microwave unattended while
running. Use caution when handling hot water.

Image Notes
1. 1 liter bottle
2. clear packaging tape
3. scissors
4. marker
5. printout
6. 2 manila folders
http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/
File Downloads

Rocket_Template.pdf (1 MB)
[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'Rocket_Template.pdf']
Step 2: Prepare the Bottle
Part A: Empty the 1 liter plastic bottle of its contents.
You can do this by drinking the contents or emptying it out in a sink.

Part B: Peel the label of the bottle.

If pealing the label is difficult, fill the bottle with hot but not boiling water. Allow to stand for three minutes, then peel off the label. Drain the water and allow the bottle to
cool.

Step 3: Print out the Template

Either

1. Download the template below (Rocket_Template.pdf) and print it out.

Or

1. Right click the "I" in the upper right hand corner and choose "Open in New Tab"
2. In the box on the left, choose "Original Image
Click here instead
3. Right click on the image and choose "Save Image As".
4. Open the image on your computer and print landscape on 8.5x11 (Letter) size paper.

File Downloads

Rocket_Template.pdf (1 MB)
[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'Rocket_Template.pdf']

http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/
Step 4: Make the Fins and Nose Cone
I you wish to decorate your fins and nose cone, be sure to do so after tracing them.

Part A: Cut out the fins and nose cone templates from the printout.
Cut along the solid lines only.

Part B: Trace the fins on the first manila folder.

Be sure to line up the fins with the fold on the folder, the fins should be double sided.

Part C: Trace the nose cone on the first manila folder.

Be sure to mark the overlap area and the slits on the nose cone.

Part D: Trace the third fin on the second folder, again lined up with the fold.
You can reuse one of the other fin cut-outs.

Part E : Cut out the fins and nose cone from the folders.
Cut the slits on the nose cone. Do not cut the fins in half, they should be double sided.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Cut out the fins and nose cone. 1. Be sure to line up the fins with the fold on the folder.
 Image Notes
1. Trace the nose cone.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Be sure to mark the overlap area and the tabs. 1. Trace a third fin on the other folder.
 Image Notes
1. Cut out the fins and nose cone. Each fin has two sides.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/
Step 5: Form the Nose Cone
Part A: Crinkle the tip of the nose cone.
Part B: Roll the nose cone and overlap the bottom edges.

Part C: Slide the tip to completely cover the overlap area.

Cutting a little off the tip may help.

Part D: Tape both the inside and outside to help the nose cone hold its shape.

Image Notes
1. Crinkle the tip of the nose cone.
Step 6: Attach Nose Cone to Bottle
Be sure to tape the nose cone on the end of the bottle

WITHOUT the cap. Part A: Place the nose cone over the end

of the bottle without the cap. Part B: Tape every other tap to

the bottle.

Part C: Tape the remaining tabs down with one piece of tape.
Feel free to use as much tap as you want.
Image Notes
1. Overlap the bottom of the nose cone.

Image Notes
1. Slide the tip into position.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Place the nose cone over the end of the bottle without 1. Tape every other tab to the bottle.
the cap.
 Image Notes
1. Tape the remaining tabs down with one piece of tape.

Step 7: Tape the Fins to the Bottle

The fins will be 120 degrees apart and have an inch of separation between the two sides of each fin.

Part A: Lay a fin out flat.

Part B: Apply tape to one side of the fin.

Part C: Align the edge of the fin with the bottle and set the tape.

Part D: Apply tape to the other side of the fin.

Part E: Fold the fin along its crease and set the tape.
*The bottom of the fin should be spaced about an inch apart.

Part F: Repeat each step for the other fins.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Lay a fin out flat. 1. Apply tape to one side of the fin.
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. Align the edge of the fin with the bottle and set the tape. 1. Apply tape to the other side of the fin.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. Fold the fin along its crease and set the tape. The bottom of 1. Repeat each step for the other fins.
the fin should be space about an inch apart.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/
Step 8: Fly your Rocket
Ready to fly!

Check out these links on how to build a launcher!

Related Instructables

water bottle Water Rocket 2- shoemaker boosters by ROCKET by haleyanna

rocket! (only Liter playmoboy Rebeccaboogirl8 Deodorant
around $7) by compressed air Water WATER Bottle Rocket Rocket by
shiboohi (video) by rocket with BOTTLE How To by mabright99

http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/
Comments
1 comments Add Comment

thing 2 says: Apr 8, 2011. 9:31 PM REPLY What links? o.O

http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Bottle-Rockets-1/