Water Rocket Design

Introduction
Physics theory states that when an object is accelerated upwards at an angle, it will
travel in a parabolic pattern. Maximum distance should be achieved when the water
rocket is aimed at a 45 degree angle to the horizontal. I will investigate this theory
using the angle of a water rocket and the distance it travels.

Aim
My aim is to find a relationship between the independent variable angle of launch
and the dependent variable horizontal travelling distance of the rocket.

Independent Variable
The independent variable is the angle of the launch. This will be changed by using a
protractor and adjusting the rocket to meet several angles of launch against the
horizontal ground. The range of angles will be 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65
and 70 degrees.

Dependent Variable
The dependent variable is the horizontal distance the rocket travels. This will be
measured using a surveyors wheel. However, this will be difficult to measure as the
water rocket will bounce and travel further, so the rocket will be fired into a bed of
sand (such as those of a long jump pit).

Controlled Variables

Amount of water in the rocket

Amount of pressure in the rocket
Density of water
Starting height of rocket
Angle
Bounce of the rocket
Wind and air resistance
Surveyors wheel (due to uneven ground)
Tailfin attachment

Figure 1 - Cross Section of Experiment

Independent
Variable

How will it be
changed?

How will it be
measured?

Angle of launch to the

horizontal.

This will be changed by

inserting the rocket
ramp/holder into the
ground at different angles
to the horizontal. The
angles will be 20, 25, 30,
35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65
and 70 degrees.

Using a (large) protractor,

the angle to the
horizontal will be
measured to the specified
angles. A large protractor
with a diameter of about
30 cm will be used to
measure the angles and
make sure they are exact,
because a small
protractor will need to
have its angle
extrapolated, meaning it
is imprecise.

Dependent Variable

What will be
measured?

How will it be
measured?

Distance the water rocket The distance along the

travels
ground the water rocket
travels after being
launched at a certain
angle.

Using a surveyors wheel

set to the beginning of a
metre, which will be
rolled until it reaches the
part of the landing point
closest to the launch site.
The amount of metres up
to that point will be
counted, and then the
final part of the metre will
be read off the scale.

Controlled
Variables

How they will be controlled/monitored

Amount of water in the

rocket

A measuring cylinder will be used when filling the

rocket to ensure the same amount and mass of water
is used to propel the rocket.

Amount of pressure in
the rocket

The same rocket will be used, which, assuming that the

amount of water remains the same, require the same
pressure to release the cap and fire the rocket.

Density of water

The experiment will be conducted using distilled water,

kept the same throughout the trials.

Starting height of
rocket

This will change as the ramp is inserted at different

angles into the ground. This will be mitigated by using
a ruler and making sure that the height above the
ground is the same (5 cm for this experiment)

Bounce of the rocket

The rocket will be fired over sand, meaning that it will

cause a crater when it lands, mitigating the effect of
extra distance travelled due to bounce.

Wind and air resistance Wind will affect the motion of the rocket in the air and
cause systematic error, and will be mitigated by doing
the experiment on a day without wind
Surveyors wheel (due
to uneven ground)

The horizontal distance will be difficult to measure due

to unevenness in the sand. So, a straight string will be
pulled taut next to the path, parallel to the path to the
rocket and the sand. The wheel will be rolled along this
line. To prevent wheel inaccuracies, the same wheel
will be used throughout the trials.

Tailfins

The tailfins will be attached in the same way

throughout the trials.

Experiment
Equipment
Water rocket which fires about 30 m in the air1 made up of water bottle, fins and
cap. Water bottle has dimensions 10 cm diameter, holds 1 litre of liquid and has
neck 2.5 cm in diameter.
The nozzle is also 2.5 cm in diameter, the size required to fit onto the neck of
the bottle.
Measuring cylinder which measures a maximum of 1 litre, to the nearest 10 mL
1 Similar to http://www.rokit.com/the-product/ which states it fires 30 m in the air on
http://www.rokit.com/the-product/water-rocket-faq-questions/

Surveyors wheel with a click function after 1 m is measured

Long string (which comes in a roll) to stretch along the travelling path.
15 L of bottled distilled water
Bicycle pump which is capable to pressuring up to 25 psi (172368.932 pascals) 2
which also has a pressure gauge to measure pressure inside the bottle.
30 cm rule

Method
1.

Stretch out a string along the path which the rocket will travel, parallel to the
sand and lay it flat and taut on the ground.
2. Hammer the ramp (or spike), which holds the rocket, into the ground at an
angle of 20 degrees to the horizontal and measure this with the protractor.
Make sure the direction of the spike is parallel to the string.
3. Using a measuring cylinder, measure out 250 mL of distilled water and fill the
bottle with this.
4. Screw on the cap of the rocket and reattach the tailfins, attaching it onto the
spike, measuring the starting vertical height to be 5cm. If it is not, hammer
the spike further down, or lift it up until this condition is satisfied.
5. Attach the pump onto the cap.
6. Pump up the water rocket until it launches. It will land in the sand, leaving a
crater.
7. Using a surveyors wheel, roll along the string until the point parallel to the
sand where the first crater is closest to the starting point. Verify by eye that
the distance along the string is the same as the distance along the sand.
8. Record the distance travelled.
9. Repeat four times for this angle (repeat steps 3 to 8, verifying the angle is
constant and the tailfins are attached consistently).
10.Repeat steps 3 to 9 for all angles up to 70 degrees to the horizontal (still
verifying that the angle is constant and the tailfins are attached consistently).

2 The pressure needed is 25 psi, according to http://www.rokit.com/theproduct/water-rocket-faq-questions/

Figure 2 - Top View of Experiment