Water Bottle Rockets  

Objective
Build a water rocket out of plastic bottles that launches and stays aloft for as long as possible. Launches are timed to determine the winner.

Method
A bottle rocket is a 2-liter soda bottle containing a small amount of water and compressed air that propels the rocket upward when released from the launch platform.

Many strategies exist to reach greater heights and slow the rocket's decent to make the time aloft much longer.

Water Bottle Rocket Downloads:

• Builder's Guide with plans that describe various strategies and designs, parachutes, etc.
• University of Scouting Course Guide (1.5MB) with materials on the theory of flight, launcher plans, rocket designs, and tips.
   

Other useful Water Bottle Rocket Links:

• http://www.scoutingthenet.com/Resources/Water_Rockets/
• http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/waterRocket/buildWaterRocketLauncher.htm
• http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/153405main_Rockets_Water_Rocket_Launcher.pdf
• http://www.arborsci.com/detail.aspx?ID=907
• http://wardsci.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_IG0003234
• http://thehowzone.com/how/water_rockets/4
• http://www.delta.edu/slime/images/2Launcher.pdf
• http://www.waterrocketmanual.com/
• http://www.h2orocket.com/
• Amazon.com - "Bottle Rocket Launcher" by Science Source