Last week, the Physics department conducted their annual Rocket Week. Physics students created rockets from soda bottles, paper, plastic bags, and water. The goal was to make a rocket that would spend the longest time in the air. To accomplish this, students crafted nose cones, tail fins, and parachutes.
To launch, bottles are filled with water – which acts as the propellant. Air in the bottle is then pressurized to 60 psi with a bike pump. The air forces the water out the jet, which in turn propels the bottle skyward…ideally. Rockets are timed from launch until the bottle contacts the ground, the building, or any obstacle. Students are encouraged to repeatedly test, adjust and re-test.
