Water Bottle Rocket Project

Words: 1395
Pages: 6

Abstract:

This project compares the results of test flights using a water bottle rocket and using a NASA simulation program of various test flights. The equations take into consideration the variables thrust, mass, gravity, and the coefficient of friction to compute the height and the velocity of the rocket. The measured values of the test flight were consistently smaller than those calculated by the computer. It was concluded that the differences were caused by inaccurate measurements from field tests and further tests would be needed to get better measurements.

Table of Contents:

Title

Abstract

Table of Contents

Introduction

Design Background

Production Costs

Calculations

Conclusions and
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Based on the three laws of motion and other factors a consensus was arrived in developing a rocket to test. The following text will demonstrate how the team arrived to this final design.Using Newton’s three laws of motion and other factors such as weight, thrust, aerodynamics of rocket, center of mass and center of pressure, it was determined that this design would achieve an altitude of 306 feet based on the NASA simulation program.

Our nose cone will be made of foam. We chose it because we believe it will be lighter, more aerodynamic and less expensive than other materials. The lighter our nose cone is, the higher our rocket will go, because there will be less weight on the rocket. The foam nose cone is aerodynamic because if it is shaped correctly, it will go straight up. We have a budget of 5 million dollars, and foam is only 500,000$, so we will be able to afford it.

Our rocket consisted of a smart bottle; we used three fins, ballast, scissors, hot glue, foam and tape. The smart bottle costs 1,000,000 dollars, because it is our main body. Our fins cost 750,000 dollars. Our ballast costs 400,000 dollars. The scissors we used costs 100,000 dollars. The hot glue we used costs 100,000 dollars. The foam we used costs 500,000. The tape we used costs 100,000
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We did research and figured out it was the most aerodynamic because it is thin and tall. The bottle is 15x3 inches tall. Our bottle’s weight is 40 grams which is relatively light. Overall our rocket has the ability to fly very high.

Upon further analysis, the team concluded that ballast needed would be 13 ounces. The ballast is used as a counterweight and when added the rocket’s center of pressure is properly aligned with the center of gravity.

Based on the software design, the team concluded that certain changes would be made to the rocket’s water volume. The rocket did not meet the apex estimated by the simulation program, so the team concluded that more fuel would need to be added. Because of this, the team increased the rocket’s water volume from 250 to 350 ounces.

Based on the team’s findings, this final design was chosen to determine its effectiveness during the launch phase and its ability to reach a maximum height. Furthermore, the team can analyze the effectiveness of this design against other designs to analyze the effectiveness of this team’s rocket versus other rockets. The team’s intentions are to build the rocket and to achieve the rocket simulations projections and