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Lesson 3: How Does the Number of Pumps Affect a Rocket’s Flight?

Pumps are the mechanism by which the water rocket propulsion occurs. In this investigation you will find out the relationship between the number of pumps and the horizontal distance traveled by a rocket. Get pumped up and begin!

Doing the science

  1. Start the Water Rockets Simulation by clicking on the “Simulation” tab.
  2. Make the following selections:

    Angle: 30°

    Fluid Volume: 200 mL

    Pumps: 4

    Fluid Type: Methanol

    Air: Off

    Wind: Off

  3. Click on the Launch button.
  4. Record the flight distance in meters in Table 1.
  5. Click on the RESET button.
  6. Repeat steps 2-5 with all of the options described in column 1 of Table 1. To change the direction of the wind, click the orange arrow in the top right hand corner of the screen.

Table 1.

Number of Pumps

Flight Distance (m)

2

4

6

8

10

Do You Understand?

  1. What number of pumps produced the longest horizontal distance traveled by the rocket?


  2. Why do you think the results came out as they did? Make a prediction for what the flight distance would have been if there were 12 pumps.