Technical documentation

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WATER ROCKET LAUNCHER Technical Documentation (With Cool Illustrations!) Nguyen Nhat An Phuong

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 2

2 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WATER ROCKETRY .................................................................................... 2

3 OVERALL DESIGN .................................................................................................................................... 2

I Materials Used ................................................................................................................................... 3

II Difference in Design ........................................................................................................................... 4

4 SPECIFIC PARTS ...................................................................................................................................... 5

I The Base (Connectors) ...................................................................................................................... 5

II The Alpha Rod (Launch Tube) ........................................................................................................... 7

III The Holder .......................................................................................................................................... 8

IV The Non-return Valve (Air Hose Connection)............................................................................... 9

5 WON'T SOME PICTURES BE NICE?.......................................................................................................10

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1 INTRODUCTION

This technical documentation aims to provide the admissions committee members with a clear view of the most meaningful project to me: the water rocket launcher that I built for the Hanoi Water Rocket Competition in 2013.

This may sound simple compared to my other projects: during my time at high school, I have experimented with more complex scientific models that won me first prizes in regional competitions: smoke bomb, light up shoes, certain kinds of batteries and mark 3 stager in water rocket. Nonetheless, my launcher still remains my most precious brainchild in high school, because it was the only science model of mine that rekindled my father’s passion for learning. The day he saw my launcher, he had said that it made him want to be a student again to relearn physics. Science can be magic to those who hold a PhD in Physics, but it can also be magic to my father who dropped out of college to earn money for his impoverished family.

With only one month to prepare, I sought help from my two best friends. We stayed at school from 6 a.m to 8 p.m. every day to work. Instead of detailing on the single-stage and multi-stage rockets that my team (of three members) designed for the competition, this portfolio will focus on the launcher as I was the one who built this item for the competition.

2 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WATER ROCKETRY:

The water rocket system is a flying model rocket for students and consists of two main parts: the launcher and the rocket (which is usually made from 1.5 liters bottles). In my country where most physics lessons learned at school are theoretical and inapplicable to real life, water rocket remains a useful way for students to learn about the basics of dynamics and mechanical engineering. To explain it simply, it utilizes water as its reaction mass and operates on the principle of Newton's third law of motion:

“When one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body.”

Water is incompressible. Air is not. When one adds air through the launcher to a bottle partly filled with water, the water will remain the same but the air will become compressed. Thus, when the bottle is released from the pump, the compressed air will push water out of the nozzle and make the bottle move away from the water – an action in accordance with Newton's Third Law. Thus, an everyday object will transform into an awesome rocket thanks to science.

3 OVERALL DESIGN:

With only one month to prepare and the limited options of materials and resources, I am quite satisfied with the way it turned out. My water rocket launcher includes new features that are not commonly seen anywhere else in my country.

Since the original water rocket launcher had been mislaid by some members of my science club last year, I built another identical model for the purpose of this maker portfolio. The pictures of the new model are shown below in the Overall Design and Specific Parts.

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I. Materials Used:

1. PVC pipes 2. Tien Phong’s PVC adhesives (not available

in America)

3. Quick connector sets: male (10 items) and

female (12 items)

4. Thread seal tape 5. The seal: O-ring (1

item) 6. PVC coupler (1 item)

7. Hand Pump (4 or 8 items)

8. Pressure Gauge (1 item)

9. Copper threads

10. Plastic cable ties 11. Non-return valves (4

or 8 items)

II. The Difference in Design:

As a penniless student background, I did not have access to had. Therefore, I made a few accommodations in order to make my model of water rocket launcher suitable for Vietnamese components

The first notable thing about this model is thatwith pipes glued together, this modelhave not seen this method used in any other Vietnamese schools. launcher has a few new features that are suitable to the Vietnamese environment:

1. This combination of plastic and metal, with the help of thread seal tape, makes the system airtight, stable and portablethe one in NASA’s instruction does.

2. The angle of my rocketthat can rotate itself due to quick metal connectors.

3. In addition, while the normal launcher needs compressor or bottled air as airlaunch multi-stage rockets, my model only needs hand pumps.disassembled by detaching the connectorspumps while the normal launcher can only be connected pumping at once, both the amount ofreduced to minimum. Thus, my water rocket system can easilyweighs 7.5 litres into the air with just hand pumps as air

Another important modificationrocket is under high pressure. This modification, named adhesives in my area. Further details are provided in the Alpha Rod part, under the Specific Parts section.

The last modification – and also the most important one the non-return valve. It acts as both a deterrent of connects the quick male connector of the launcher with the bicycle pump. I call it the Vietnamese adaption of the non-return valve since I only designed it for the old and cheap pumpshad.

1 Source:

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytyhtml#.VjIJLflfjIU

The Difference in Design:

As a penniless student in a developing country with little to none scientific applicationbackground, I did not have access to many materials that water rocket players had. Therefore, I made a few accommodations in order to make my model of water rocket launcher

omponents.

he first notable thing about this model is that while most water rocket launchers are formed with pipes glued together, this model utilizes the quick metal connectors to connect the pipes. have not seen this method used in any other Vietnamese schools. Thanks to this modification, my launcher has a few new features that are suitable to the Vietnamese environment:

combination of plastic and metal, with the help of thread seal tape, makes the and portable. As a result, this system does not need a launcher base

the one in NASA’s instruction does.1

of my rocket can be adjusted, since the launch tube is connected that can rotate itself due to quick metal connectors.

n, while the normal launcher needs compressor or bottled air as airstage rockets, my model only needs hand pumps. Since the model can be

by detaching the connectors, it can acclimate itself to three or even while the normal launcher can only be connected to one pump. With three

the amount of time taken to pump air and the amount of reduced to minimum. Thus, my water rocket system can easily launch a fiveweighs 7.5 litres into the air with just hand pumps as air-supply.

modification is the method I used to keep the cable ties in place while the rocket is under high pressure. This modification, named The Flower, arose from the lack of proper adhesives in my area. Further details are provided in the Alpha Rod part, under the Specific Parts

and also the most important one that makes my model stand out . It acts as both a deterrent of leak and an air hose connection, which

connects the quick male connector of the launcher with the bicycle pump. I call it the Vietnamese return valve since I only designed it for the old and cheap pumps

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Water_Rocket_Launcher_Directi

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scientific application water rocket players in the United States

had. Therefore, I made a few accommodations in order to make my model of water rocket launcher

while most water rocket launchers are formed to connect the pipes. I

hanks to this modification, my launcher has a few new features that are suitable to the Vietnamese environment:

combination of plastic and metal, with the help of thread seal tape, makes the a launcher base like

, since the launch tube is connected to a pipe

n, while the normal launcher needs compressor or bottled air as air-supply to the model can be easily

or even seven bicycle ith three or seven people

the amount of leaked water are launch a five-stage rocket that

is the method I used to keep the cable ties in place while the , arose from the lack of proper

adhesives in my area. Further details are provided in the Alpha Rod part, under the Specific Parts

makes my model stand out – is air hose connection, which

connects the quick male connector of the launcher with the bicycle pump. I call it the Vietnamese return valve since I only designed it for the old and cheap pumps that our team

pe/Water_Rocket_Launcher_Directions.

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4 SPECIFIC PARTS:

My launcher consists of four important parts: the Base, the Alpha Rod (launch tube), the Holder and the Non-return Valve.

I. The Base (Connectors):

At first, my water rocket system’s base could only be connected to one bicycle pump. However, since the Hanoi Water Rocket Competition 2013 demanded that our team launch a multi-stage rocket, I had to modify it. I asked my friends to gather or borrow pumps and built another version of my initial launcher using quick metal connectors.

The new base consists of four kinds of three-way connectors:

Short Receiver (4 items) Long Receiver (1 item)

This has either three female quick connectors or one male and two female, and is connected to the pressure gauge or the pump using air hose connection.

This has three female quick connectors and is considered the connection between the base and the launch tube. Thanks to the metal quick connectors, it can rotate itself in the system.

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Long three-way A connector (1 item) Long three-way B connector (1 item)

This has one male and two female quick connectors. It connects the long receiver with the short receiver.

This has three male quick connectors. It connects the long receiver with the short receiver.

The ways I created different connectors are similar: I connected the pipe and the male/female quick connector using the miraculous adaptors called copper threads.

I also used thread seal tape to tighten the threads, making the connectors airtight.

II. The Alpha Rod (launch tube)

There are important components in this Alpha Rod:

The cable ties and the PVC coupler are responsible for keeping the rocket in place

when we pump air into it while the O-ring acts as a seal

preventing the water and the air inside the bottle from

leaking.

Special modification:that the adhesive gluing the cable ties to the effective: when the water rocket was under high pressure, it still managed to pull the cable ties upward and make water leak from the bottle. Therefore, I came up with another idea to keep the cable ties in place.

Though still using adhesive, small open cases and used other four ties to hold the cable ties and the Alpha Rod together.and stopped water from leaking.

launch tube)

There are important components in this Alpha Rod:

The three-way PVC pipe fitting (with a hose camp)

connects the Holder and the launch tube.

The male quick connectorthe end of the Alpha Rod

connects the launch tube the base.

Special modification: The Flower: While testing the rockets, I noticed that the adhesive gluing the cable ties to the Alpha Rodeffective: when the water rocket was under high pressure, it still managed to pull the cable ties upward and make water leak from the bottle. Therefore, I came up with another idea to keep the cable ties in

Though still using adhesive, I also threaded intact cable ties through small open cases and used other four ties to hold the cable ties and the Alpha Rod together. This small modification finally kept the ties in place and stopped water from leaking.

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male quick connector at the end of the Alpha Rod

connects the launch tube with the base.

While testing the rockets, I noticed Alpha Rod was not

effective: when the water rocket was under high pressure, it still managed to pull the cable ties upward and make water leak from the bottle. Therefore, I came up with another idea to keep the cable ties in

threaded intact cable ties through small open cases and used other four ties to hold the cable ties and the

This small modification finally kept the ties in place

III. The Holder:

The Holder is used to adjust and maintain the angle of the rocket.

With this simple holder, I harnessed PVC pipe fittings to create two triangles and only used Tien Phong’s PVC adhesive to connect the pipes together.

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IV. The Non-return valve (Air Hose Connection)

Basic mechanism: The Valve is connected to the male quickBase. Thus, the pump is connected to the

The male quick connector connects the non-return valve with the female quick connector in the Base.

Natural rubber

The Natural Rubber tightens on the and the non-return valveThe Seal tightens on the on the Seal. Thus, the three components create a super tight connection between the return valve.

(Air Hose Connection):

The pump is connected to the Non-return Valve. The quick connector. The male quick connector is connected to the

is connected to the Base!

Cover Small spring

Mechanism of the non-return valve (blue color):the air flows from the pump to the quick connector, the spring will push the cover away to make way for the flow. However, when the air or water flows in the opposite direction, the spring will be compressed and the cover will prevent the air or water from escaping.

The non-return valve is connected to the pump.

Natural rubber

The “Seal”

Nut (hardware)

The combination of the Nutshould look like this.

tightens on the male quick connector return valve to make the connection airtight.

tightens on the Natural Rubber. The Nut tightens . Thus, the three components create a super tight

connection between the male quick connector and the non-9

. The Non-return is connected to the

Small spring

return valve (blue color): when the air flows from the pump to the quick connector, the

away to make way for the flow. However, when the air or water flows in the opposite

tion, the spring will be compressed and the cover will

is connected to the pump.

Nut (hardware)

The combination of the Nut and the Seal should look like this.

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5 WON’T SOME PICTURES BE NICE?

1. Launch the rocket

Step 1: Position the rocket on the launch tube and hold the rocket in place using the PVC coupler and cable ties.

Step 2: Connect the pumps with the Base using non-return valves (which also act as air hose connections).

Step 3: Start pumping. Look at the pressure gauge to prevent it from going too high and endangering the person holding the coupler.

Step 4: When the pressure is enough, release the coupler.

Step 5: Watch the rocket fly!

2. Happiness

Me and my friends during the competition in 2013. We looked happy when the picture was taken. However, that cheerful mood was not always there when we started working as a team. We disagreed on a lot of things. :<

In the end, we bonded over the jokes we told each other during breaks and funny moments like that time when one stray rocket tore my shoes.

3. Here comes the Hero!

Oh, the perk of my portable water rocket system. XD This picture attracted a lot of attention from students at my school.

“I didn’t know that you make such cool stuff.” One classmate told me. She subsequently joined my science club. :D

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4. “COOL!!!”

Upon seeing this picture, my new friend instantly exclaimed that water rocket was cool. :)

Water rocket is cool to me too, but for different reasons! One of those is that it is able to elicit interest from people who never paid attention to science like my friend! ^_^

5. The “Flower”

I endearingly call this the “Flower” of my water rocket launcher, not only because it resembles a white flower, but also because to me, it is as beautiful and meaningful as one. I came up with the idea of this when I struggled to find a way to prevent water from leaking from the rocket. Partly thanks to the “Flower”, my rocket can launch a multi-stage rocket. :D

In science, even the smallest parts matter.

6. Perfectionists

My girl friend and I were both interested in arts, so we tried to make our rockets aesthetic. They were all ruined in the end, but who cares? We had fun!

7. Random inspiration

I came up with the idea of using quick metal connectors to connect the pipes after going to some motorbike repair shops.

With science, we can find ideas from everywhere.