1N22.20 - Water Rocket

Code Number:
1N22.20
Demo Title:
Water Rocket
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Action & Reaction
Area of Study:
Mechanics
Equipment:
Water Rocket.
Procedure:

Fill the water rocket to the first or second line with water, attach to pump, pump 8 to 10 times, and pull the trigger.  Make sure the gaskets seal properly.

References:
  • Guilherme Frederico Marranghello, Marcia Maria Lucchese, Fabio Saraiva da Rocha, "Analysis of the Propulsion Phase of Water Rockets Using Smartphone Sensors and Video Analysis", TPT, Vol. 60, #6, Sept. 2022, p. 437.
  • James R. Claycomb, Christopher Zachary, and Quoc Tran, "Baking Soda and Vinegar Rockets", TPT, Vol. 47, #2, Feb. 2009, p. 88. 
  • Martin Nicoll, "The Surgical-Hose Rocket", TPT, Vol. 36, #3, Mar. 1998, p. 181.
  • David Kagan, Louis Buchholtz, and Lynda Klein, "Soda-Bottle Water Rockets", TPT, Vol. 33, #3, Mar. 1995, p. 150.
  • A. R. Marlow, "The Pedagogy of the Rocket", TPT, Vol. 33, #2, Feb. 1995, p. 124.
  • Gerry McClelland, "As the Hose Bends", TPT, Vol. 27, #8, Nov. 1989, p. 581.
  • George W. Ficken Jr., "Home Experiment Using a Garden Hose", TPT, Vol. 25, #4, Apr. 1987, p. 218.
  • Peter Boileau, "CO2 Cartridge Firing Mechanism", TPT, Vol. 50, #1, Jan. 1974, p. 50.
  • Cedric J. Gommes, "A More Thorough Analysis of Water Rockets: Moist Adiabats, Transient Flows, and Inertial Forces in a Soda Bottle", AJP, Vol. 78, #3, Mar. 2010, p. 236.
  • G. A. Finney, "Analysis of a Water-Propelled Rocket: A Problem in Honors Physics", AJP, Vol. 68, #3, Mar. 2000, p. 223.
  • Matthew Vonk and Peter Bohacek, "Water Weight Figures in Jetpack Dynamics", Physics Today, Vol. 66, #8, Aug. 2013, p. 9.
  • David Fisher, "Water Weight Figures in Jetpack Dynamics", Physics Today, Vol. 66, #8, Aug. 2013, p. 9.
  • Matthew Vonk and Peter Bohacek, "Carried by Impulse: The Physics of Water Jetpacks", Physics Today, Vol. 66, #1, Jan. 2013, p. 54.
  • William K. Esler and Daniel Sanford, "Water Rocket Workout", TST, Vol. 56, #5, May 1989, p. 20.
  • William Gurstelle, "Early Adopter: Build This Backyard Water Rocket", Popular Mechanics, Vol. 189, #6, June 2012, p. 132.
  • D. Rae Carpenter Jr. and Richard B. Minnix, "M-558. Water Rocket Toy and Balloon", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook, 1993.
  • G. D. Freier and F. J. Anderson, "Mh-3", A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • Jodi and Roy McCullough, "Newton's Laws with a Water Rocket", The Role of Toys in Teaching Physics, p. 4.78.
  • Borislaw Bilash II and David Maiullo, "Fuel Me Up", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 114.
  • Ed Sobey, Woody Sobey, "Water Rocket", The Way Toys Work, p. 156.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "C.11. Water Rocket, Rocket Balloon, and Balloon-Powered Helicopter", Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations, p. 33 - 34.


Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.