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    Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Air Pressure Experiments » How to make a Bottle Rocket

    How to make a Bottle Rocket

    Modified: May 11, 2023 · Published: Aug 15, 2018 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 35 Comments

    Did you know you can make and launch a water bottle rocket using just a plastic bottle, water, cork, needle adaptor and pump?

    How to make a Bottle Rocket

    How do water bottle rockets work?

    As you pump air into the bottle the pressure inside the bottle builds up until the force of the air pushing on the water is enough to force the cork out of the end of the bottle. The water rushes out of the bottle in one direction whilst the bottle pushes back in the other. This results in the bottle shooting upwards.

    Child with water powered bottle rocket #bottlerocket #waterpoweredbottlerocket
    Water Bottle Rocket

    What you need to make a bottle rocket

    • an empty plastic bottle
    • cardboard made into a cone and  4 fins
    • a cork
    • a pump with a needle adaptor
    • water

    You can buy a kit with the parts except from from the pump and the bottle – please check the contents before buying

    UK: https://amzn.to/2MBJuqj

    US: https://amzn.to/2MBdfaS

    How to make a Bottle Rocket - bottle rocket sat on a cardboard box ready to launch
    Bottle Rocket Holder

    Instructions – how to make a bottle rocket

    • Push the needle adaptor of the pump through the cork, it needs to go all the way through so you might have to trim the cork a little bit.
    Needle adaptor for a water bottle rocket
    How to make a Bottle Rocket
    • Decorate the bottle with the cone and fins.
    • Fill the bottle one-quarter full of water and push the cork in tightly.
    • Take the bottle outside and connect the pump to the needle adaptor. Ours wouldn’t stand up on the fins so we rested it on a box, but if you make some strong fins it should stand up by itself.
    • Pump air into the bottle, making sure all spectators stand back, the bottle will lift off with force after a few seconds.
    kids launching a water bottle rocket
    Bottle Rocket

    Warning!

    Please make sure an adult is around as the rocket takes off very suddenly and forcefully as you can see in this video clip. Do not approach the rocket once you have started pumping even if it looks like nothing is happening.

    Why does the water bottle rocket launch?

    As you pump air into the bottle pressure builds up inside. If you keep pumping, the force of the air pushing on the water eventually becomes strong enough to force the cork out of the bottle allowing water to rush out in one direction while the bottle pushes back in the other direction. This forces the rocket upwards.

    Space rockets work in a similar way to the bottle, but instead of squirting water, they burn fuel to make a powerful jet of hot gas. The force of the gas downwards pushes the rocket upwards. This is a great demonstration of Newton’s Third Law.

    How to make a Bottle Rocket - mans hand pouring water into a bottle rocket
    Water Bottle Rocket

    What is Newton’s Third Law?

    Newton’s Third Law says:

    ‘for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction’

    Who was Issac Newton?

    Issac Newton was an English scientist most famous for his theory of gravity, but he also worked out three laws of motion to describe how objects move. You can find out more about the Three Laws of Motion in my book, This Is Rocket Science which has lots of activities to demonstrate all three laws based around rockets and space.

    More Rocket Experiments

    Find out how to make a rocket mouse

    Make a film canister rocket

    Try one of these other easy air pressure experiments, including making a fake lung, a barometer and a coin popper!

    Can you show a friend how to make a bottle rocket?

    This Is Rocket Science – Space Experiments for Kids

    For more fun rocket science activities check out our new book This Is Rocket Science

    Image of This Is Rocket Science book
    How to make a Bottle Rocket - Water Bottle Rocket
    Water powered bottle rocket

    Affiliate links

    Images taken from This Is Rocket Science

    Water Powered Bottle Rocket

    Last Updated on May 11, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

    « Egg in a Bottle Experiment
    Great Science Experiments for Kids »

    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. maria

      August 22, 2011 at 10:13 am

      What a lovely project! We’ll give it a go too, thanks for sharing:)

      Reply
    2. Sherry and Donna

      August 23, 2011 at 11:23 pm

      Oh WOW Emma and Kerry this is AWESOME!!! We will definitely be trying this amazing experiment out …. all for the children’s benefit of course (cough, cough).
      Donna 🙂 🙂

      Reply
    3. Mandi @ Boredom Busting Mommy

      August 25, 2011 at 6:47 pm

      I love stuff like this. My 7-year-old is our little scientist around here, and he is going to love this project!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        August 25, 2011 at 7:12 pm

        It was brilliant! I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂

        Reply
    4. ScienceSparks

      August 25, 2011 at 7:12 pm

      Thank you. We are very excited by it, and can’t wait to add to our growing collection of experiments!

      Reply
    5. Almost Unschoolers

      August 28, 2011 at 11:19 pm

      Water rockets are soooo much fun, but just a little scary 🙂

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        August 30, 2011 at 12:42 pm

        It was quite scary! We were lucky it didn’t go out of the garden! x

        Reply
    6. Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

      August 29, 2011 at 1:28 am

      yay, this is fabulous – how fun & educational! Thanks for sharing on the Sunday Showcase!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        August 30, 2011 at 12:42 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    7. Ticia

      August 29, 2011 at 3:24 am

      That looks awesome. I learned the hard way not to go near projects like that after I did……. That was an unpleasant chemical burn and took a few days to stop stinging.

      I’ll have to see if we have a hand pump anywhere.

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        August 30, 2011 at 12:42 pm

        ouch, sounds painful! The rocket was fantastic though.

        Reply
    8. maryanne @ mama smiles

      March 12, 2012 at 12:58 pm

      The little blue cone makes the rocket look so much more exciting!!!

      This is a great experiment that I think any kid would enjoy! Thanks for sharing with Learning Laboratory at Mama Smiles 🙂

      Reply
    9. Alisha

      March 12, 2012 at 5:35 pm

      We used to do this…so fun!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        March 13, 2012 at 12:31 pm

        its great and so easy!

        Reply
    10. brooke schaefer

      March 13, 2012 at 11:30 am

      WHAT FUN! My kids will love this.

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        March 13, 2012 at 12:31 pm

        Thank you, my children thought it was fantastic

        Reply
    11. maggy, red ted art

      March 14, 2012 at 6:37 pm

      Love love love this experiment! Such fun! And love the Science Sparks look!

      Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty! Great to see you there!

      Maggy & Alissa

      Reply
    12. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum

      March 14, 2012 at 10:48 pm

      This looks so much fun I can remember making them with my physics class. J would also love it. I love the new look to science sparks.

      Thank you for linking up to Tuesday Tots

      Reply
    13. Erin @ Making Memories

      March 23, 2012 at 7:55 pm

      This is so cool. I can’t wait to try this with my kids!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        March 24, 2012 at 9:57 pm

        We loved it!

        Reply
    14. ScienceSparks

      July 23, 2012 at 6:49 am

      oh no. what happened?

      Reply
    15. Pauline

      April 05, 2013 at 2:43 am

      WOAH! Look at that rocket go! Love this! I’ll be featuring this post as part of my Earth Day Activities for Kids: Upcycling roundup from the Weekly Kids Co-Op. xoxo P

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        April 05, 2013 at 9:42 pm

        oh wow, thank you.

        Reply
    16. Helen Sims The good life mum

      May 20, 2013 at 11:38 am

      Found this through the parent pin it party and love it we must try this

      Reply
    17. retired

      May 21, 2015 at 4:19 pm

      There is a little air leaking out when flip the bottle over. Is there a certain cork or needle I can use? Right as the bottle fills up with air it starts to leak. any advice would be appreciated.

      Bob

      Reply
    18. Britt

      July 28, 2015 at 10:30 pm

      Hi–what a fun craft! Would this work with different sized plastic bottles–such as a 16oz plastic soda bottle? Thanks!

      Reply
    19. yccc_dudpy6_

      May 27, 2016 at 4:18 am

      This is a awesome experiment…

      Reply
    20. Erick B

      July 15, 2016 at 10:49 pm

      What size cork would be best to use for this project?

      Reply
    21. Wasim Akram

      November 06, 2016 at 8:38 am

      Not Very Good

      Reply
    22. Sarah Cowdry

      February 07, 2017 at 2:26 am

      I haven’t tryed it yet but I bet it will be cool

      Reply
    23. rs

      May 19, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      bottle rocket?

      Reply
    24. Renato1979

      July 24, 2017 at 6:30 pm

      Hello admin, do you monetize your website ? There is easy way to earn extra money
      every month, just search on youtube : How to earn $25/hour selling articles

      Reply
    25. hihio

      May 01, 2018 at 5:29 pm

      yeah

      Reply
    26. Johaness

      December 12, 2019 at 3:44 pm

      Great work on engineering ,I will attempt the Rocket with my science club when schools open in January 2020.

      Reply

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