How to Build a Water Rocket
A model rocket that you can build yourself is a water rocket. Usually, a plastic aerated drink bottle is used as a pressure vessel or rocket engine.
The compressed air in the bottle forces the water out of the bottle or rocket engine. Water rockets are known as ‘bottle rockets’ and in the European region, it is referred to as ‘aquajet’. Water rockets have been used in cars, model rockets, rocket-aided gliders and model boats.
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A combination of gas and water is used. The gas is used as it can be compressed easily, and provides better momentum when driven out from the water rocket’s nozzle. When the seal of the bottle is released, rapid ejection of water takes place. This ejection of gas can rise into the air. This rise can be explained on the basis of Newton’s third law. The plastic bottle is partly filled with water. The sealed plastic bottle is then fueled with gas compressed with the help of a cylinder or a bicycle pump. The gas that is used can be nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
Flight and altitude duration as well as aerodynamic considerations is determined by the size of the rocket’s nozzle, the initial pressure, the rocket’s unloaded weight and the volume of water. Normally, the pressure container is built using more than one plastic bottle. Also, cylindrical vessels that are lightweight and fluorescent should use a cover of polycarbonate fabric.
The plastic bottles that are used can be joined in varied ways such as by connecting through the rocket’s nozzles, sliding one bottle after the other, after cutting them so as to enhance volume. An augmented volume increases the weight of the rocket. This rise in weight should be counterbalanced by a proportionate rise in the thrust duration of the water rocket. Since multi-bottle rockets are more prone to accidents, it is advisable that as a precautionary measure, pressure tests are conducted. The crunching-sleeve technique is the most commonly and successfully used method in the process of preparing for a multi-stage rocket.
Many kinds of nozzles are used for launching a water rocket. The main kinds of nozzles are - Gardena (9 mm) and Open (22 mm) nozzle. Each of them have advantages and disadvantages of their own. A Gardena nozzle allows for a slower launch and reduces forces such as drag. A Gardena nozzle also facilitates an easy water rocket construction. An Open nozzle facilitates the easy movement of the rocket while enhancing the drag a little.
Fins provide stability and lower the pressure center of the water rocket. However, they can also damage the rocket while landing since they cause the water rocket to descend with a considerably high velocity. Parachutes or Crumple zones can be used so as to reduce the damage. Angling of fins can decrease the veering and cause the spinning of rocket. A straight cylinder is an effective and simple stabilizer; it is positioned behind the nozzle with the aid of plastic tubing or wooden dowels. An augmented fin size enhances the drag movement, and thus provides stability to the movement of water
rocket.