Republic of the Philippines
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
MAIN CAMPUS
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Philippines
Website: http://www.ctu.edu.ph
Phone: +6332 4024060 loc.1124
PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS (LAB)
WATER ROCKET
Lab Report
Marc Louie J. Bernal
Roel A. Gabunada
Britney L. Lariosa
Fernando R. Ricabo Jr.
Christine Antoinette C. Saavedra
BSIE 1-5
Prof. Neil Ompad
Instructor
April 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic/Title Page Number
I. INTRODUCTION 3
1.1. Objectives 4
1.2. Hypothesis 4
1.3. Theoretical background 5
II. METHODOLOGY
II.1 Materials Used 6
II.2 Procedure 7
II.3 Documentation 8-9
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
III.1 Results and Discussion 10
III.2 Conclusion 11
III.3 Reference 12
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INTRODUCTION
Water rockets are an intriguing and fascinating engineering marvel that have captured the
imaginations of both students and adults alike. They are a type of rocket that uses compressed air
and water to launch into the air, relying on the principles of fluid dynamics and Newton's laws of
motion to achieve lift and thrust.
The history of water rockets can be traced back to the early 20th century when they were
first used as a form of entertainment in circuses and fairs. Over the years, they have evolved from
a simple toy to a sophisticated scientific tool that is used in educational settings and scientific
research.
The basic design of a water rocket consists of a plastic bottle, a launch tube or stand, and
a pressurizing mechanism. The bottle is filled with water and pressurized with air, which is then
released through a nozzle, creating a jet of water that propels the rocket into the air. The rocket's
flight is governed by the principles of fluid dynamics, including Bernoulli's principle, which
states that as the velocity of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases.
The design and construction of a water rocket can be customized to optimize its
performance. The size and shape of the bottle, the length and diameter of the launch tube, and the
amount of water and air pressure used can all affect the rocket's height and distance traveled. A
well-designed rocket will fly straight and stable, while a poorly designed rocket may spin or
wobble during flight.
In addition to their educational value, water rockets are also used in scientific research.
They are a low-cost, low-risk tool for studying the physics of rocket flight, as well as for testing
new propulsion systems and aerodynamic designs. Researchers have used water rockets to study
topics such as aerodynamic stability, rocket trajectory, and the effects of wind resistance.
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Launching a water rocket can be a fun and exciting experience, but it is important to take
proper safety precautions. The launch area should be clear of people and obstacles, and the rocket
should be launched at an angle away from the launch site. It is also important to wear protective
eyewear and gloves when handling the rocket.
Figure 1: Water Rocket Reference
Objectives
In this laboratory report, to explore Newton’s Three Laws of Motions and how they apply
to an object at free-fall, as well as how they apply as they propel an object into the air. (i.e. action
reaction, gravity, air resistance)
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Hypothesis
The rocket will go 10 meters high.
Theoretical Background
A water rocket is a type of rocket that uses water and compressed air to launch into the
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air. The concept of water rockets is based on the laws of motion, specifically the principles of
Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction.
Water rockets operate by filling a plastic bottle with water and pressurizing it with air.
When the air pressure inside the bottle reaches a certain point, the bottle is released, and the
pressurized water is forced out of the bottle through a small opening in the bottom. This creates a
downward force, which generates an equal and opposite upward force, propelling the rocket into
the air.
The physics behind water rockets can be explained by Bernoulli's principle and the
conservation of momentum. As the water is expelled from the rocket, it creates a force in the
opposite direction, propelling the rocket upwards. Bernoulli's principle states that as the velocity
of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases. The water expelled from the rocket nozzle creates a
high-velocity stream of water that results in a low-pressure area above the rocket. This low-
pressure area creates an upward force that adds to the force generated by the expelled water.
The height and distance that a water rocket can travel depend on various factors, such as
the amount of water and air pressure used, the design of the rocket, and external factors, such as
wind resistance. The design of the rocket can also affect its stability and trajectory during flight.
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A well-designed rocket will fly straight and stable, while a poorly designed rocket may spin or
wobble during flight.
Water rockets have various applications, including educational demonstrations and
recreational activities. They can also be used for scientific experiments and research. Water
rockets provide a safe and inexpensive way to study the principles of motion and fluid dynamics.
METHODOLOGY
The water rocket used recycled objects such as plastic bottles (two pieces), foam board for
the fins and duct tape. On the other hand, the following materials used for the launching stand:
1/2" PVC Pipe
1/2" PVC T's (x3)
1/2" PVC Cap (x4)
3/4" Coupling (x1)
3/4" Hose Clamp (x1)
Rubber from bicycle
PVC solvent cement
Zip Ties
Tire Air Valve
Nylon Twine
Air Pump w/Gauge
Procedure:
Making of the launch stand
1. Cut the PVC into 1 ft. Prepare eight pieces of these pvc.
2. Drilled a hole in the PVC cap and inserted the bicycle tire valve, making sure it was
secure and no air gap.
3. Using a PVC solvent cement and Teflon tape, attach the 6 PVC with each other and use a
PVC T.
4. Set it aside in order for the solvent to set and stick to the PVC.
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5. For the remaining two PVC with one ft. length, use a pvc pipe fitting to attach these two.
Attach using the T in perpendicular angle.
6. Put the water bottle inside the PVC and measure the length where to stick the cable ties.
Use duct tape to secure the cables ties surrounding the PVC pipe.
7. Next, cut off the top and bottom of the bottle, leaving the approximately center body of
the bottle remaining.
8. Trace the coupling on the body of the plastic bottle and the PVC 1/2 size to the other
side.
9. Using a cutter, create the whole in a plastic bottle. This will serve as a suspension for the
coupling. Then attach it to the PVC pipe and secure it with hose clamp at the bottom.
10. Next, drill a small hole in the coupling to attach the nylon twine. Put the coupling inside
the PVC pipe.
Making of the rocket
1. Clean the labels off the two bottles. The other one cut the upper portion of the bottle.
Then attach it to the bottom part of the other one.
2. Cut four identical fin shapes for the fins; we used foam board.
3. Attach the fins to the rocket using duct tape, equidistant from each other. Make sure the
fins are not crooked or wiggly.
4. Design the rocket, such as spraying paint and adding some stickers.
5. On launch day, we filled about three-fourths of it with water, attached the pump to the
bottom of our bottle, and pumped to 30 psi.
6. Once we reached that pressure, we pulled the string that released it from the launch pad.
7. We did a lot of trials with varying amounts of water.
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Documentation
Pictures taken during the making of the water rocket
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Final Product
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
As was expected, our experimental values are close to the theoretical values that we were
given. A water bottle rocket is a 1 -liter (soda) bottle with compressed air (for safety reasons, we
keep the air pressure around 30 to 40 psi) and water released in an upward direction. Air enters
the pressurized vessel from the bottom and presses down on the water. When the pressure reaches
a critical level, it pops the "mouth" out of the nozzle, and the pressurized air expels the water
from the nozzle. Air is a mixture of gases that can be compressed. As more and more air is forced
into the rocket's "engine," air molecules are packed more and more tightly together. The pressure
inside the container is very high. When the stopper is released, the compressed air in the
container rushes out. The more pressure applied could lead to a higher angle. The wings that were
made from paper were too flimsy and made the design less aerodynamic.
Amount of Water Flight Duration (time in sec.) Calculate Max. Height (m)
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Approximately
1/4 0.75 7
1/2 0.85 10
3/4 1.10 15
Full 0 0
Data Table
The rocket stayed in the air for the longest amount of time when the bottle was filled up
to 3/4 with water. There were multiple times when the rocket did not take off. When it was filled
entirely with water and when it was not filled with any water. The attempt to fly the bottle full of
water did not work because the rocket was too heavy and there was not any air pressure to launch
it up. The attempt to fly the bottle without any water resulted in failure as well because there
wasn’t any element that would propel the rocket up.
CONCLUSION
To sum up everything, the purpose of the water rocket project is to provide students with
an example of how Newton's Three Laws can be applied to anything. We determined the ideal
levels of water and air pressure required to launch a bottle rocket to its highest point, as well as
those that failed to launch it. Our experiment had several human errors, such as timing issues and
potential flaws in the construction of the rocket, which may have affected our results. However,
the rocket's behavior aligned with our predictions: it launched most effectively with a 3/4 water
level, allowing for maximum compressed air and enough water for an adequate reaction force.
Overall, the rocket was able to be launched into the air successfully and reached 10 m and
beyond, which was aligned with our hypothesis. We could make further improvements to the
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design; the fin shape of the rocket could be changed, as also the materials used or even the shape
of the nose. The best thing to do would be to add some mass into the nose of the rocket to help
the rocket be more stable in flight.
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REFERENCES
Bigfoot (2019.). Bigfoot Water Rocket Launchers. H2O Rocket. https://www.h2orocket.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDN9lxgzPlo
NASA (n.d.). Newton’s Laws of Motion. NASA Official: Glenn Research Center.
https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/newtons-laws-of-motion/
#:~:text=Newton's%20Third%20Law%3A%20Action%20%26%20Reaction&text=His%20third
%20law%20states%20that,words%2C%20forces%20result%20from%20interactions.
Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao. (2011). Rocket Aerodynamics. Retrieved
from https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/392-rocket-aerodynamics
Skybrary (n.d.). Theory of Flight: Bernoulli's Principle.
https://www.skybrary.aero/articles/bernoullis-principle
Whitaker, R. (2012). Water Rocket Construction. NASA Stem Engagement.
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/rockets-educator-guide-20-water-
rocket-construction.pdf
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