First Launch

We learned a lot today during our first launch. We learned how to use the launch materials that are provided in class which we are going to be using throughout the remainder of this project. We didn't use any modifiers such as fins, nose cones, or parachutes for this first launch just so we could try out the materials. We learned the basics first. We first filled our bottle up with 500 mL of water which is used as our fuel, then we secured the bottle onto the launcher. We pumped air into our rocket using a pump, and then finally pulled the string to release the launcher which allowed the bottle to be released into the air. After watching a few groups before us, we decided to make our first launch at about 45 PSI. However, we didn't know how much pressure there was in the bottle so we released it after we couldn't pump any more. After watching the playback of our launch, our first try came out to the bottle staying in the air for maybe 4 or 5 seconds. The wind was a major contributor today because of the amount of wind that was felt. The wind caused most if not all of the classes bottles to to drift far away from the launching spot. Above is the video of our first launch.

Blogpost #1

This week, Mr. Blake introduced the bottle rocket project to us. We had to start researching the project and post informational sites that could help the rest of the class. The site we found explained what water bottle rockets were and how to make a launch pad. We looked at other groups sites that were listed and found one with great instructions on how to make a rocket with a parachute. This website included a very concise list of materials and detailed steps that are easy to follow. The first step of course is to create the body of the rocket out of two 2L bottles. One bottle is cut on both ends to create a cylinder, and the second one is cut to create the fuselage that will be used to store the parachute. The parachute is especially important because it will allow our rocket to have a higher chance of remaining in the air for ten seconds. We plan to continue to research to find additional ways that will improve our rocket’s air time.