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Stomp Rockets: Concepts Illustrated

This document provides instructions for making and launching stomp rockets with students in grades K-8. The rockets are constructed from paper tubes wrapped around a plastic forming tube, with cardboard fins and a cotton ball nose cone. A stomp rocket launcher is made from PVC piping attached to a board and uses a 2-liter bottle that is stomped on to launch the rocket into the air. Students will build their own rockets following the instructions, decorate them if desired, and then take turns carefully launching their rockets outdoors to test the design and observe how high and long they fly based on Newton's third law of motion.

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Mee Lee Flynn
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87 views4 pages

Stomp Rockets: Concepts Illustrated

This document provides instructions for making and launching stomp rockets with students in grades K-8. The rockets are constructed from paper tubes wrapped around a plastic forming tube, with cardboard fins and a cotton ball nose cone. A stomp rocket launcher is made from PVC piping attached to a board and uses a 2-liter bottle that is stomped on to launch the rocket into the air. Students will build their own rockets following the instructions, decorate them if desired, and then take turns carefully launching their rockets outdoors to test the design and observe how high and long they fly based on Newton's third law of motion.

Uploaded by

Mee Lee Flynn
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STOMP ROCKETS

Credit: EAA Museum Education program


Concepts Illustrated:
(1) Forced air flight and Newton’s 3rd Law
(2) Stability and aerodynamics of rocket structure

Time Requirements: 15-45 minutes (Depending on how much you have kids construct
and what type of qualitative or quantitative analysis is done, if any during walk-up
activity)

Grade Level of Audience: This activity is primarily suited for kids in grades K-8.

I. Materials and Equipment Utilized


(Materials needed for a group of 20 students)
1. 2-4 Stomp rocket launching apparatus (construction details are shown
below). Materials needed for each rocket launcher:
 1-10’ piece of ½” Schedule 40 PVC (with 2’ of waste)
 1- ½” x ½” 90o elbow
 4- ½” CPVC clamps
 8- ½” wood screws
 2- 3’ pieces of 1”x 3”
 1-2 liter soda bottle
 duct tape
2. 11” x 14” pieces of paper for rocket bodies (construction details are listed
below)
3. template for rocket fins (one copy needed for each student)
4. small piece of carboard (one piece for each student, must be large enough to
provide rocket fins)
5. 10 Scissors
6. 5 rolls of Scotch tape
7. bag of cotton balls or box of plastic cellophane wrap (for nose cone)
8. markers for decorating

II. Description of Set-up and/or Construction of Apparatus

1. Construction of Stomp Rocket Launcher:


 Cut the 10’ piece of PVC into 4’, 2’, 2’, and 2’ pieces.
 Lay the 4’ piece across the center of the two pieces of 1” x 3”,
such that, about 6” PVC hang over at both ends.
 Using wood screws, tightly clamp the pipe to each board using
two clamps.
 Either glue or friction fit the 90o elbow to one end of the 4’ PVC
tube. Make sure the opening of the elbow is pointed vertically
upward.
 Using a file, grinder, or rough surface (such as concrete or
asphalt), taper one end of a 2’ piece of PVC (so the rockets will
slide on and off more easily).
 Either glue or friction fit the non-tapered end of the 2’ piece of
PVC into the open end of the 90o elbow.
 On the pipe end opposite the elbow, tape a 2-liter soda bottle
using the duct tape. Although the bottle can be stomped a
minimum of 50 times, eventually you will have to replace it.
Thus, make a small tab in the duct tape so it may easily be
removed to exchange 2-liter bottles.
 One of the extra 2’ pieces of ½” PVC should be used as a
forming tube for the bodies of the rockets. If the PVC is used as
is, the rocket bodies will fit too tightly to launcher. In order to
modify the forming tube, simple wrap the entire tube with one
thickness of duct tape.

2. Making Rockets
 Roll the 11” x 17” piece of paper on the forming tube, such
that, the longest possible tube is formed. The piece of paper
should be wrapped tightly. If it is mushy, re-wrap it.
 Tape all along the seam to keep it from unwrapping.
The rocket body is now complete.
 After much use, if the seam shifts or becomes tattered,
simply slide the rocket body onto the forming tube, such that
only about ½” of the tattered end hangs over the edge. Apply
a small strip of tape to both sides of the seam.
 Cut out the fins provided and fold on the dashed line,
bending the tabs in alternate directions.

 Tape the fins to the bottom of the rocket tube.


 The top of the rocket must be closed so the blast of air from
the launcher will be trapped, pushing the rocket up. With
one’s thumb, push over ½” of the rocket tube. Then push on
the other side and push over the paper there. Now there are
two peaks left. Fold those over one at a time too (shown
below). Now when the top is taped, the paper at the end will
give it sufficient strength.
 One should make a rounded, soft nose cone for safety and
efficiency. The softness of the nose will absorb some of the
shock as the rocket hits the ground so the rocket tube doesn’t
get too banged up. This may be done using a cotton ball or
a small, wadded up, piece of clear plastic food wrap. With
a piece of tape, tape the cotton ball or ball of plastic to the top
of the rocket, as shown below. The tape will form an upside
down “U” with the middle curving around the top of the
plastic ball and then ends taped to the rocket tube.
 Depending on time constraints, one may decorate one’s
rocket.

III. Details of Student Implementation

1. Care needs to be provided so that the rockets are not launched at people. It
might be wise to cover up the 2-liter bottle launcher with a copy paper box
until the rocket has been placed for launch and the area is clear of other
students. The launcher MUST be initially tested outside. With some
modifications, one may test in tall ceiling buildings, such as hangars,
auditoriums, and gymnasiums.
2. After placing the rocket on the launcher, the person doing the launching
should stomp with ONE FOOT ON THE CENTER of the 2-liter bottle.

3. Time permitting and based on ability, analyses of height and time could be
done. Expanded lesson plans and student activities may be found in the
Single Visit lessons.

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