You only need a few tools to build a water rocket. It seems complex but it is very easy. The stuff you will need are also widely available.
Required Tools and Materials
Water
Soap (optional)
Bicycle pump
Wood board
Plastic bottle
Nozzles
Pen
Wood glue
Nails
Screwdrivers
Sander
Saw
Making the Rocket Body
Empty the bottle. Now use a pen to draw a fin shape on the wood board. Cut the fin shape using the saw. Use sandpaper to smoothen any edges. Put some glue on the fin and attach it to the bottle. Make three or four fins.
Making the Launching Pad
Cut the wood boards into 2 x 2 sections. After they are hinged, set them aside. Now you can make the chute. When you build a water rocket, this will serve as its base. Take another bottle. Chop it into two parts. Cut the neck area so it does not get entangled when the bottle goes up. Use a screwdriver to fasten it onto the board. If you want you can paint it too. However it is best if you finish making all the components first before painting anything.
Making the Pump
Put a 2 inch copper into a stopper. Put some adhesive. Set the tubing’s end over the copper. Take the valve system and attach to the tubing. To prepare for launch do the following.
Fill the bottle with water. Do not fill it completely; halfway will be good enough. Now fasten the stopper on the bottle. Put the bottle upside down on the chute you just made. The final step to build a water rocket is to connect the valve to the bike pump and pump in air. Do this slowly. Eventually the bottle will blast off into the air. The typical air pressure would be 70 to 75%.
Tips
Do not touch the bottle when there is gas pumped in. it might suddenly go up without warning. In rare cases the bottle will not go off. Be patient when you build a water rocket.
The nozzles you use can make a big difference. A large nozzle means it will reach greater heights. But it will lose water more quickly. The opposite is true of smaller nozzles. You can also add soap to increase air time. Just mix it with the water before pumping in the air.
Replace the bottle after several launches. Repeated air pumping takes it toll on a bottle. Any kind of bottle can do. You can use soft drink bottles too, but plastic is most ideal.
Warnings
Do not put too much air into the bottle. Also keep a good distance away both when you are putting in air and afterwards. Never try this indoors. The bottle could propel itself all the way to the roof and hit something. Do this outdoors. Stay away from buildings and homes.
Not only is this project fun, bit you also get to learn something about air pressure and gas. When you build a water rocket, you have fun and educate yourself at the same time.
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