Straw Rocket
How to launch a rocket using a bottle
Want to make a simple rocket? You just need two straws and a bottle! Check it out!
Safety precautions:
Warning! Only under adult supervision.
Equipment
- two straws with different diameters;
- a plastic bottle with a lid;
- sealant;
- cardboard;
- scissors;
- double-sided tape.
Step-by-step instructions
Cut some triangles out of cardboard to make the rocket’s "wings.” Apply some double-sided tape and bend the triangles as shown in the video. Tape the wings to half of a straw and seal the tip of the straw shut. Your rocket is ready! Bore a hole in a bottle cap and insert a straw with a smaller diameter than that of the “rocket.” Seal them together and screw the bottle cap onto a bottle. This will be your launchpad! Put the “rocket” on the launchpad and squeeze the bottle sharply to launch it!
Process description
Аt first, the air pressure inside the bottle is equal to atmospheric pressure. When the bottle is squeezed, the force applied to its walls increases the air pressure inside. The increase in pressure forces air out of the bottle. This rapid flow of air travels through the thin straw into the rocket body and pushes it upward, sending it flying.
More educational experiments are waiting for you in the MEL Physics subscription!
