SIXTH GRADE
BOTTLE ROCKET LAB
THIRD TRIMESTER LAB REPORT
Objective:
During the completion of this activity, you will demonstrate science processing skills, an ability to use technological design, and an ability to identify factors that affect motion and forces.
Background Information:
Bottle rockets are excellent devices for investigating "Newton's Three Laws of Motion":
1st Law - A rocket will remain on the launch pad until an unbalanced force is exerted, propelling the rocket upward.
2nd Law - The amount of force depends upon how much air is pumped inside the rocket. You can increase the force further by adding a small amount of water, which increases the mass expelled by the air pressure in the rocket.
3rd Law - Finally, the action force of the air (and water) as it rushes out of the nozzle creates an equal and opposite reaction force propelling the rocket upward.
Ask a Question?
How can pressurized water and a soda bottle be used to build a rocket?
Form a Hypothesis
If a bottle rocket is filled with XXX ml of water using XXX psi of applied pressure, then it should reach an altitude of XXX meters. Water LevelLESS THAN 1000ml | PressureLESS THAN80 PSI | AltitudeLESS THAN300 Meters |
Procedure
Materials
2 L Soda Bottle with cap
Foam Board
Modeling Clay
Poster Board
Duct Tape
Scissors
Water
Bucket
Rocket Launcher
Altimeter
*Remove or add materials that do/do not apply to “your” experiment.*
Conduct an Experiment 1. Using only the materials listed, create a bottle rocket design. Draw & color a sketch on an 8 ½” x 11” piece of white paper. Label the parts of the sketch. Take a picture of the sketch and insert under the Design Drawing & Final Build section of the lab report. 2. Decide how to build the bottle rocket based on the named design. Keep in mind that the opening of the water bottle must remain clear. It will be placed over a rubber stopper on the rocket launcher. 3. Fins are often used to stabilize rockets. Should there be fins on the bottle rocket? Decide on the best shape for the fins, and then decide how many fins the bottle rocket needs. Use the foam board to construct the fins. 4. The bottle rocket must be heavy enough to fly along a controlled pathway. Consider using clay in the body of the rocket to provide some additional weight and stability. 5. Nose cones are often used to add mass to the front of the rocket to help it fly straight and improve its flight stability. Use a durable material like poster board to create the nose cone. 6. Take a picture of the final build and insert under the Design Drawing & Final Build section of the lab report. 7. Pour water into the rocket based on the preselected measurement in the hypothesis. 8. The teacher will provide the launcher and assist you during the blastoff. Attach the bottle rocket to the launcher by placing its opening on the rubber stopper. 9. When the rocket is in place, clear the immediate area and begin pumping air into the rocket. Watch the pump gauge, and take note of how much pressure is needed for liftoff. Use caution, and be sure to step back from the launch site. You should be several meters away from the bottle rocket when you launch it. 10. Make small changes in your rocket design that you think will improve the rocket’s performance. Consider using different amounts of water and clay or experimenting with different fins. You may also want to compare your design with those of your classmates.
Analyze the Results 1. How did your rocket perform? If you used fins, do you think they helped your flight? Explain. 2. What do you think propelled the rocket? Use Newton’s third law of motion to justify your answer. 3. How did the amount of water in your rocket affect the launch?
Draw Conclusions 1. What modifications made your rocket fly the longest time? How did the design help the rocket fly so far? 2. Which person’s rocket were the most stable? How did the design help the rocket fly straight? 3. How can you improve your design to make your rocket perform even better?
Design Drawing & Final Build
Insert named pictures.
By: Your Name.
http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/BottleRocket/historyofrocketrypostconfact.htm 