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    Home » Primary Science » Key Stage 1 Science » How to make a Squeezy Bottle Rocket

    How to make a Squeezy Bottle Rocket

    February 26, 2016 By Emma Vanstone 2 Comments

    These easy squeezy bottle rockets are great fun to make and a brilliant introduction to forces, in particular Newton’s Third Law of motion, which sounds complicated but actually makes a lot of sense.

    What is Newton’s Third Law?

    For every action there is always an opposite and equal reaction.

    Think about a space rocket taking off. The rocket’s action is to push down on the ground with the force of it’s engines, the equal upwards force pushes the rocket up or if you think about air coming out of a balloon, the air is being forced downwards yet the balloon flies upwards.

    In the case of our squeezy bottle rockets, as you squeeze the bottle, air is forced out of the straw and pushes against whatever you have sealing the top of the larger straw, this force causes the straw to “fly” through the air.

    Squeezy Bottle rocket craft for kids
    Image taken from This IS Rocket Science

    How to make a squeezy bottle rocket

    Materials

    • Empty Squeezy water bottles
    • Cardboard
    • Straws
    • Scissors
    • Glue/sellotape
    • Blue tack
    • Plasticine

    Challenge 1

    To build a mini rocket which can be launched from the water bottle.

    Instructions

    For the bottle

    Lift up the sports cap and push in half a straw, seal around it with blu tack.

    Squeeze the bottle and make sure air is coming out of the top of the straw, not the sides.

    For the rocket

    Draw and cut out a cardboard rocket.

    Seal one end of a larger straw than the one in the bottle with sellotape.

    Attach the rocket onto one side of the straw.

    Place the rocket on the bottle and squeeze the bottle hard, the rocket should fly into the air.

    Squeezy sauce bottles can be used instead of water bottles to make this activity a little easier.

    Challenge 2

    What happens if the rocket is made bigger/heavier, does it fly as far?

    Challenge 3

    How do you think using a smaller bottle will affect how the rocket flies?

    squeezy bottle rocket

    When experimenting remember to only change one factor at once, so either change the size of the bottle or the weight of the rocker, not both!

    More space science experiments for kids

    If you enjoyed this activity you might like our DIY Space Camp!

    Learn about Galileo and Issac Newton with these simple gravity experiments, including film canister rockets, straw rockets and a magnet trick where you can defy gravity!

    Learning Objectives

    Key Stage 1 Working Scientifically

    Key Stage 2 – Forces/Working Scientifically

    Fun squeezy bottle rocket activity for kids - explore forces with this fab science craft #scienceforkids  #spacescienceforkids

    Contains affiliate links

    Last Updated on May 6, 2020 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rohit Shitole

      March 10, 2016 at 9:52 am

      Wow nice experiment. I love how simply you performed this experiment. Kids will really love this.
      Thumbs up 🙂

      Reply
    2. Burgess

      April 20, 2017 at 8:53 am

      Looks great, I will have to try this!

      I’m afraid, though, your explanation is wrong. Rockets don’t push against the ground (they still fly in space!) and in the case of the bottle rocket the rocket is being directly pushed by the air. The equal and opposite force will be trying to push the squeezy bottle backwards!

      Sorry to be pedantic!

      Reply

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