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Activity Four: Optimize a Water Rocket Engine

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Audience

Educators

Grade Levels

Grades 5-8

Subject

Engineering Design, Technology, Rocketry

Type

Lesson Plans / Activities

Students build an air-powered water rocket from a 2-liter soda bottle to find the optimal amount of water volume to air pressure for producing maximum thrust.

Students will:

  • Construct flightworthy water rockets.
  • Find the optimal amount of water to compressed air within the water rockets to reach maximum performance (altitude).
  • Demonstrate an understanding of Newton’s second and third laws of motion and how they apply to rocket launches.

Next Generation Science Standards: MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4

Common Core Math Standard: 6.SP.B.5

Activity Four: Optimize a Water Rocket Engine

This lesson plan is part of the “Propulsion With the Space Launch System Educator Guide.”