5 Second Launch

Today we launched for our 4th time.  This weekend I knew we had A LOT of modifications to make to our rocket.  Because we glued our wings onto our last rocket and the wings were too big, I decided that we should just start from fresh.  So I got a new bottle, exactly like our last green one, and then got two more 2-liter bottles from my neighbors trash and cut those bottles.  I got the idea that I should put some weight inside our rocket.  I got this idea from: http://home.comcast.net/~timhesterberg/HowToRockets/HowToRockets.html.  The weight I decided to use is watered down shredded paper.  At the bottom of the green bottle, I placed one of the cut up coke bottles and then I put the watered down shredded paper. I taped down this watered paper and then placed the topping of our bottle and closed it off so the water wouldn't evaporate.  For our parachute, we placed a toothpick and knotted the string and put it in the bottle before closing it off.  This was a secure way that the parachute would not come off.  After stringing the string through the top of the bottle, we attached a black trash bag to the top.  The trash bag was cut into a square.  I thought of the types of parachutes that people use when they go parachuting.  Our launch lasted 8.5 seconds! We were so happy.  We put about 600 mL of water and 60 psi for our rocket to launch.  Inflight, the cone came off and the parachute came off, and the rocket landed safely on the ground.  By next class, I think the modification we need is to not make the cone come off so early.  During the flight, I think the cone came off to early and cut off the path in which it was going.  We need only 2 more seconds! Hopefully it works by next class.