How To Make A Squeeze Bottle Rocket...

Key Concepts:

• Newton's Third Law of Motion (Action-Reaction)
• Air pressure propulsion
• Straw rocket launcher
• Sealed system for pressure build-up

Materials:

• Two different sized straws (one slightly smaller to fit inside the other)
• Squeezable juice bottle (with an opening approximately the size of the smaller straw)
• Modeling clay

Construction of the Rocket Launcher:

1. Straw Selection: Identify two straws where one straw (smaller straw) can slide inside the other straw (bigger straw).
2. Bottle Preparation: Find a squeezable juice bottle. The opening of the bottle should be approximately the same size as the smaller straw.
3. Securing the Straw: Insert the smaller straw into the bottle opening.
4. Creating a Seal: Use modeling clay to secure the straw around the bottle opening. The clay provides stability and ensures that air is forced through the straw when the bottle is squeezed. The goal is to create an airtight seal around the straw where it meets the bottle.

Rocket Construction:

1. Clay Seal: Take a small piece of modeling clay.
2. Sealing the End: Flatten the clay and use it to seal one end of the larger straw. This seal is crucial for the rocket to be propelled forward.

Launching the Rocket:

1. Positioning: Place the open end of the larger straw (rocket) over the smaller straw (launcher).
2. Squeezing and Pushing: Squeeze the juice bottle while simultaneously pushing forward. This action forces air through the smaller straw, into the larger straw, and against the clay seal, propelling the rocket forward.

Explanation of Propulsion (Newton's Third Law):

• The sealed end of the rocket straw is essential. Without it, squeezing the bottle would simply release air without propelling the rocket.
• The action is the force of the air being pushed against the clay seal.
• The reaction is the equal and opposite force that propels the rocket forward.

Scaling Up the Rocket:

• The video mentions the possibility of making a larger version of the rocket, using the whole body to propel it forward. However, the specific method for scaling up is not detailed in this excerpt.

Conclusion:

The video demonstrates a simple, hands-on method for creating a rocket using readily available materials. The key to the rocket's propulsion is understanding and applying Newton's Third Law of Motion by creating a sealed system where air pressure can build and exert force against a barrier, resulting in forward movement. The modeling clay serves as both a sealant for the launcher and a crucial component of the rocket itself, providing the necessary resistance for propulsion.