| A bottle rocket is a small model of a skyrocket. | | | | 1.Remove the label and the ring around the neck of |
| They are special types of rockets that are designed | | | | the bottle, then use paint thinner to eliminate the glue |
| to soar into the sky rapidly before it explodes. They | | | | from the bottle. |
| are made up of a rocket engine that is attached to a | | | | 2.Cut four fins out of the balsawood with handsaw |
| stabilizing stick. It gained the name "bottle rocket" | | | | and smooth them with sandpaper. |
| because of the custom to put it in a bottle where | | | | 3.Fasten the fins to the bottle using rubber cement. |
| the rocket engine is lit and the bottle guides the | | | | 4.Use scissors to cut a nose cone from the manila |
| object to ascend in the sky. There are various | | | | folder then use rubber cement to attach it at the top |
| versions of bottle rockets: the fireworks ones and | | | | of the bottle. |
| the plain types designed for just flying. | | | | TO MAKE THE LAUNCH PAD |
| HOW BOTTLE ROCKETS OPERATE | | | | 1. Using the handsaw, cut two 6" blocks from the 2 x |
| The fireworks bottle rocket has a tube filled with a | | | | 4 wood. |
| kind of explosive material. When it is ignited, the | | | | 2. Cut another piece measuring 1 1/2 feet long, 6" |
| explosion that is set off pushes the rocket into the | | | | wide and 1/2" thick. |
| air. Other explosions are set off resulting in colourful | | | | 3. Use the screwdriver and screws to fasten the |
| fireworks. Some are designed to make a screeching | | | | two 6" blocks to the long piece of wood to form a |
| sound while they fly through the air. | | | | table-shaped object which is the launch pad. |
| It is certainly great encounter to design a bottle | | | | 4. Screw the junction box in the centre of the |
| rocket by yourself and watch it shoot of into the | | | | object. |
| sky. Here are the instructions to make a | | | | 5. Drill a hole through the junction box and the launch |
| straightforward rocket made only for flying; not a | | | | pad then place a test tube stopper through it. |
| complicated type with fireworks. | | | | 6. Using scissors cut some copper tubing and place it |
| Necessary Materials | | | | inside the test tube stopper. |
| 2 liter soda bottle | | | | 7. Use hose clamp and affix the tube to the air pump. |
| Paint thinner | | | | 8. Bend a piece of steel in the shape of a 'U'. Slide it |
| Balsawood | | | | into the holes drilled in the junction box and tie a |
| Sand paper | | | | piece of string to it. |
| Rubber cement | | | | 9. Drill a hole in each side of the launch pad. Push a |
| Manila folder | | | | nail through each hole and into the ground to secure |
| 2 x 4 piece of wood | | | | the launch pad. |
| Screws | | | | TAKE OFF |
| Copper tubing | | | | 1. Throw 2-3 cups of water inside the bottle and |
| 1/8" thick steel | | | | attach it to the launch pad by placing the pin over |
| String | | | | the bottle neck. |
| 2 extra long nails | | | | 2. Switch on the air pump so the rocket can be |
| Water | | | | pressurized. |
| Required Tools: | | | | 3. Yank the string suddenly so that the rocket can |
| Handsaw | | | | take off. |
| Hose clamp | | | | Tips: |
| Drill | | | | You can paint the bottle for a more attractive |
| Air pump | | | | rocket. When launching your rocket do so away from |
| Scissors | | | | persons and animals to avoid damage. Do not launch |
| Screwdriver | | | | the rocket close to power lines. Always launch your |
| Junction box | | | | rocket in wide open spaces. You can try different fin |
| #4 test tube stopper | | | | sizes to see which results in the best operation. |
| Directions: | | | | |