Stomp Rockets
by Adam
Supplies Needed
· 2 liter or similar-sized plastic bottle
· Bike tire inner tube (demo one is 26 inches but most sizes will work)
· Small piece of 1 inch PVC pipe (Size can vary)
· Duct Tape
· Scotch Tape (Masking and electrical will work as substitutes)
· Scissors
· Paper
· Markers/Crayons/Colored Pencils
Launcher
1. Take out the inner tube and cut it with the scissors just above the valve. Do not cut off the valve.
2. Pull one end of the tube over the mouth of the bottle and use the duct tape to anchor it in place.
3. Pull the other end of the tube over one side of the PVC pipe and duct tape in place
Rocket
1. Personalize a sheet a paper by drawing a picture, writing your name etc. Roll the paper around the pipe, making sure that it is snug but not tight. Tape the seam.
2. Slide the paper up and down the pipe to make sure that it moves freely and adjust tightness as needed.
3. Make a cone by cutting out a baseball diamond from a different sheet of paper and joining the straight edges with tape. Use additional tape to seal the cone as airtight as possible.
4. Place the cone over the rocket body. It will overhang so taping will be easier if you reinsert the pipe to give yourself a solid surface to tape on to.
5. Tape down the edges of the cone.
6. Create fins by cutting out triangles and then taping them to the body of the rocket.
Launch
1. Place your rocket on the pipe and aim it skyward away from people, animals and trees. Never launch directly into a tree, you will have a hard time getting your rocket back in one piece 😉
2. Stomp on the bottle to launch the rocket.
3. Retrieve the rocket and re-inflate the bottle (either with a bike air pump or by blowing into the pipe – if you use this method, be sure to sanitize the pipe!)
4. Have fun!
Tips & Tricks
1. Fins help with stability and aerodynamic flight. Consider different numbers of fins and shapes of fins. Notice how each combination affects the flight of the rocket.
2. Change the launch angle of the pipe. Track how far each launch goes and see which angle is the best.
3. Do not underestimate the range of your rocket. It will go farther than you think.
Tell us how your rocket flew in the comments below! How far did it go? What type of fin worked best?
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