Objective:

• To build a rocket from a 2 liter plastic soft drink bottle.

Apparatus:

You are to build a rocket from a 2 liter soft drink bottle which uses water and compressed air as a propellant. You are to employ only a bicycle tire pump to pressurize the rocket. As an example, you may fit a rubber stopper with a basketball needle through it into the bottle and attach the tire pump to the needle. Your launch mechanism must safely hold the pressurizing mechanism and contain any stopper or plug which is ejected by the rocket upon launching. The rocket may have a styrofoam nose cone, cardboard fins and a parachute. No metal parts are to be on that part of the rocket which leaves the ground. We suggest that you use extreme care when building and testing your rocket. It is not worth injuring yourself or someone else for this event. Wear safety glasses or goggles. SFASU will provide the timing systems only. Each team must build their own rocket and launch mechanism prior to the competition and bring these materials (goggles, water, etc.) with them. All parts of the rocket must remain together during flight (even the nose cone). Any mechanism or rocket which is deemed unsafe by the safety committee will be disqualified.

Scoring:

• Scoring will be based upon the time aloft, the time from when the rocket is launched to the time it strikes the ground. You might want to reconsider a parachute!