55818 V0511

User Guide

Bottle RocketSmorgasbord

2 Bottle Rocket Smorgasbord User Guide 55818 V0511

Note: These sheets may be photocopied and distributed to students.

The Bottle Rocket Smorgasbord is designed to give students an opportunity to experiment with different types of bottle rockets and to determine which type would be the most efficient bottle rocket. There are many factors that can impact a rocket’s performance. To have a successful launch, there must be a certain amount of stability and acceleration to achieve maximum altitude.

Some of the factors that can determine whether a launch will be successful are:

• Sizeofbottle • Typeofnose/transitioncone

• Amountofwateraddedtothebottle • Locationoftherocket’scenterofpressure

• Numberoffins • Locationoftherocket’scenterofgravity

• Placementoffins • Launchpressure

• Sizeoffins

Mission• Todesignarocketthatwillreachmaximumaltitude.

and/or:

• Todesignarocketthatachievesthemaximumflighttime.

Materials Included• Ping-Pongballs • Bodytubes

• Transitionconetemplates • Noseconetemplates

• Parachute • Foammeattrays

• Balsawood • Plasticinserts

• Cardmaterial • Sandpaper

Items Required (not included)• Waterrocketlauncher • Airpump

• Cool-meltgluegunandglue • Scissors

• Tape

Tips for Measuring Rocket Performance:• Useastopwatchtomeasureflighttime(fromliftofftotouchdown).

• UseadeviceliketheEstesAltitudeFinder(Pitsco#50126)todeterminealtitude.

• Findthefinareausinggeometryprinciples.Ifyoudon’tknowhow,yourmathteachercanhelp.

• Whenretestingaparticulardesign,trychangingonlyonevariableatatimetoevaluateresults.

Bottle Rocket Smorgasbord User Guide 55818 V0511 3

Bottle Rocket Design: ________________

Design Version:______

Bottle size

Number of fins

Fin area

Nose cone type

Recovery system

Table 1 – Rocket Design Attributes

4 Bottle Rocket Smorgasbord User Guide 55818 V0511

Table 2 – Rocket Performance

Launch 1 Launch 2 Launch 3

Rocket Design

Design Version

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