November 27th, 2006 by The Bosphorus
Launching rockets with the family is fun!
This past Saturday we went over to Bissell Park with the rocket that Spotz’s AuntShelby gave him for his birthday. He had waited until Grampa Fred visited to make the the rocket. Spotz is a great guy that way.
It took us several launches to get the baking soda to vinegar ratio just right.
We were able to send it to about 150 feet by the fourth launch. Great fun taking feminine hygene products to new heights!
Get your own here.
Oh, and enjoy the video.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
look at my future son-in-law! ha!
November 27th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Looks fun. When I was but a lad I dabbled in model rocketry, and it was all sorts of fun until you actually launch it, and it lands in the highway like a half mile over, instead of the nice big field you set up for it to land in.
Freakin rockets.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
It looks like you did the “Stop, Drop and Roll” when the rocket took off! LOL
November 27th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
We’re going to make Diet Coke and Mentos rockets for the kiddo’s slumber party this weekend. I bet we won’t get anywhere near the 150 ft mark - but not for lack of trying!
November 27th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
Umm… the kids sound adorable.
Did you blow your head off with that launch?
That was hilarious!
November 27th, 2006 at 11:31 pm
Oh.MY.Gosh! I love the video!! Did he totally shart himself when the rocket launched? I nearly did just watching it (three times)!! So funny!
and Allisone–have faith! Mythbusters always know best!! (and let me know how it turns out because my husband DESPERATELY wants to try it!!!)
; )
November 27th, 2006 at 11:44 pm
Oh my goodness, what fun. I have GOT to do this with my boys.
Love the picture!
November 27th, 2006 at 11:49 pm
Love the pics and am so glad you were out and about having a good time.
November 28th, 2006 at 8:27 am
Allisone, you’ll get more mileage with a coke bottle rocket. (I did this with our scouts). 1 two liter empty plastic bottle. 1 cork. 1 air pump needle (like what you use to put air in a basket ball), 1 bicycle pump (that can get ruined from having water get into it), and water. I added cardboard for fins and a nose cone, 1 soda straw, 1 three foot metal rod that the straw could slide over, and a drill bit to help get the needle in the cork.
Prepare your pump: Drill a hole (smaller diameter than the needle) through the cork. Push the needle through. Should be a tight fit. Attach the air pump to the needle.
Prepare your rocket: Cut 3 or 4 triangular fins and tape them to the two liter bottle. Cut a circular piece of cardboard and shape it into a nose cone (it may help to cut a line on the radius). Tape the straw to the bottle. Fill the bottle 1/3 with water.
Prepare your launch pad: Pound the metal rod into the ground. I recommend doing it over a thick grassy spot. Doing it in bare dirt makes lots of mud.
How to launch: Put cork in the neck of the bottle. Invert the bottle and slide it down the metal rod. Pump the air pump vigorously make sure to not put your face over the rocket. Just when you think you cannot pump any more the rocket will launch about 60 foot into the air.
http://www.things2make.com/Things2make_files/instructions%20over%205/coke%20bottle%20rocket.htm
http://www.ast.leeds.ac.uk/~knapp/rockets/cokebottles.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZQsDD7QPgU
http://www.jamesyawn.com/h2o/index.html
November 28th, 2006 at 9:45 am
it looks like you are having too much fun bos. besides — where is the kid in that rocket fueling picture of yours?! Oh, it must be the one wearing the hat! We used to have pressurized water rockets - also the model ones. Nothing as fancy as the one you are all sporting. Your boy is getting so much older! I remember when he was learning to use the potty.
tg
November 28th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Awesome guys! Thanks for the links.
If you hear any odd - family blows up house with beverages - reports from Philly, just whistle and walk the other direction :)
I’ll let you know how it goes …
November 28th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
what great fun:)