Grandview fifth grade students launched pressure rockets as the grand finale of their rocket unit in Science on May 15.
The body of the rockets were two-liter bottles. Students learned about aerodynamics as part of the science lesson, and designed elements to attach to the nose and sides that would help their rocket fly.
The day of the launch, the rockets were filled about a quarter of the way with water and a special plug was inserted into the opening that would allow them to pump in air without losing all of the water. Students used a foot pump to force air into the bottle, increasing the pressure to 35 PSI for maximum liftoff.
The whole school was outside to watch the launches and they helped with each countdown. At blast-off, the release lever was triggered and the rockets jumped into the air. Some flew straight up while others made loops or went sideways, depending on the rocket’s design features.
