Resources
Booklet - A guide to building and understanding the physics of Water Rockets
If you wish to learn more about how water rockets work, how to build them, and how to optimise their flight, a booklet is available detailing the process from start to finish, with a look at the physics involved in water-powered flight:
Water Rocket Simulator Software
This software is described in the booklet and helps you improve flight and understand the physics involved (be amazed at the temperatures of water and air leaving the rocket):
Links
| Hubs of Water Rocket knowledge: | |
| www.wra2.org/ | The water rocket achievement world record association. World Altitude and flight time competitions. They have a forum, great for construction advice. |
| http://groups.yahoo.com/group/water-rockets/ | Jolly active discussion group |
| www.sumrallworks.com/rockets | Good collection of serious construction links |
| www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/7914/subject.htm | A link to more links – nicely categorised |
| Making rockets is quite easy, but making launcher is tricky. Help at hand: | |
| www.paul.grosse.is-a-geek.com/h2orocketlauncherindex.htm | General launcher wisdom |
| www.paul.grosse.is-a-geek.com/h2orocketlaunchercutube.htm | Copper tube launcher |
| www.paul.grosse.is-a-geek.com/h2orocketlauncherquickrel.htm | Hose connector launcher |
| www.water-rockets.com/article.pl?117,0 | Nice copper launcher |
| http://homepage.ntlworld.com/telescope/Rocketweb/Launcher.htm | Very nice one with launch tube |
| Parts and kit suppliers (not endorsed officially by NPL): | |
| www.mindsetsonline.co.uk www.mindsetsonline.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=745 |
Suppliers of corriflute for fin and nose cone construction |
| www.amazon.co.uk (Search for Awesome H2O-Power Sky Rocket) www.cheatwell.com www.lazyboneuk.com/products/Sky-Rocket-%252d-Water-Powered.html |
Suppliers of kits comprising launcher and rocket which are good for beginners. On request, Cheatwell (UK distributers who sell via Amazon or take larger orders directly) will also provide extra nozzles. |
| http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/?sra=oss&searchTerm=duct+tape |
Suppliers of strong coloured tape |
| http://antigravityresearch.com/ | Serious specialist water rocket hardware supplier |
| www.rokit.com | Worldwide suppler of water rocket kits |
| www.rocketstore.co.uk | Include water rocket kits |
| www.waterrocketmanual.com/ | Only $17 |
| Other sites of Water Rocket interest: | |
| www.bbc.co.uk/bang/handson/waterbottlerockets.shtml | Wow! The BBC linked our page above NASA |
| www.ast.leeds.ac.uk/~knapp/rockets/ | Johannes Knapp’s fantastic Leeds University Water Rocket Page (includes physics, nice pictures, slow motion film analysis and a person strapped to a water rocket (probably not a real launch) |
| www.martinet.nl/articles/20050101.html | A very beautifully illustrated page on how to build your own launcher and rocket |
| www.orgsites.com/va/bristolwaterrockets/ | Great site with scary large rocket picture |
| http://h2orockets.googlepages.com/ | Very nice practical site |
| http://home.people.net.au/~aircommand/ | If it's not here, you don't need to know it |
| http://home.people.net.au/~aircommand/construction.htm | Nice basic construction page |
| http://home.people.net.au/~aircommand/construction_2.htm | How to link more than one bottle together for bigger rockets |
| http://home.people.net.au/~aircommand/rocket_gallery.htm | Some inspirational (perhaps daunting) designs |
| http://pagesperso-orange.fr/alain.juge/English/EnFrame.htm | Nice practical help – building rockets since 1967 |
| http://thehowzone.com/how/Water_Rockets | Nice items on mounting cameras among other resources |
Workshops
NPL has successfully run workshops for schools local to Teddington for classes and year-groups.
If you are interested in knowing more, please email waterrockets@npl.co.uk