BOTTLE ROCKETS - Division B
Prior to the tournament, teams construct up to 2 rockets designed to stay aloft for the greatest amount of time.
Observers are allowed to watch this event. Observers may not approach or speak to participants while they are competing.
No coaching is allowed. Any observer who interferes or becomes loud will be asked to leave.
You may photograph or record only devices from your child’s school. You may photograph or record only your own child or, with advance written permission given to the head coach, children from your child’s school.
These restrictions also apply to students photographing and recording other students or devices.
EACH device MUST have the school name and the team name written permanently on the device.
Added 01/16/12 Close up photo of the Bottle Rocket launcher that will be used for the Division B Competition on February 4, 2012 to launch ONE liter or smaller beverage bottles.
Added 01/13/12 Information from the Coaches & Event Captain Meeting Jan. 11, 2012
No impound
2 one liter or smaller carbonated beverage bottles. The labels may have been removed, but they must be presented with the bottles prior to launching.
One launch per rocket.
No glues on/against the bottle wall.
All fins must be taped on the bottle wall. You might use glue on the tape to attach your fins, but nothing to change the structural integrity of the bottles.
NO hot glue.
The bottle rocket may NOT change shape during flight: no parachutes, rotor systems, streamers, umbrellas
Make sure students make their own rockets.
Bring your own goggles.
Event Captain will provide 3 identical launchers (photos on website)
The photos on website are from last year when 2 liter bottles were used. This year ONE liter bottles but the launcher is the same.
Nose cone must be rounded.
If the rocket breaks a fin when it hits the ground, it is considered to have been intact.
Any leak in the launcher: bottle can be reloaded and placed on another launcher.
Bring your own measuring device for the water or draw a line on the bottle to show how much water they want.
Added 12/16/11 Bottle Rocket B score sheet 2012
Added 10/27/11 From our very experienced Event Captain. Make sure that your students understand the comments about shape changing.
"No change in shape" means just that. All components of the rocket must remain rigid or in place from the time the rocket is mounted on the launcher through the entire flight and recovery.
However, if a rocket changes shape because it impacts the ground, and pieces fly off because of the crash, that is OK. It is the unfortunate destruction of the rocket due to an uncontrolled impact.
Activities that violate the shape changing rule include:
1) A nosecone falls off, tethered or not;
2) A lanyard or string lying along the body of the rocket moves in flight;
3) A flap or fins lie flat against the body of the bottle at launch but move during flight;
4) A fin (or wing) that is so long that it flaps because it is not rigid enough to maintain structural integrity during the entire flight;
5) A label or other decorative item which detaches from the rocket during flight.
In summary, any non-rigid moving part of a rocket is considered to change the shape of the rocket during flight/descent and therefore is prohibited under the competitive rules for 2012.
The event captain must be able thoroughly to inspect the structural integrity of the bottle wall (rule 4. d.) “Event supervisors assess structural integrity by looking through the nozzle and sides of the bottle for discoloration, bubbles, thinning or cuts in the walls.”
4.b. It is possible to use a layer of tape on the wall of the bottle and then glue a fin to the tape as long as the bottle wall is not weakened by the gluing process. The glue must not penetrate the tape. Even with the tape, the event captain strongly advises...ABSOLUTELY NO HOT GLUES!!!!
From the event captain: The very best adhesive for attaching fins is any of the "Goop" silicone products (Plumbers, Lawn and Garden, Craft, or Marine). All are 100% silicone (which doesn't chemically alter a soda bottle wall) and they hold like steel. You may want to use a layer of duct or strapping tape on the bottle wall and then glue the fins to the tape using one of the above Goop products. Our Bottle Rocket event captain always used either Plumbers or Marine Goop. Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware and Wal Mart all carry Goop products.
Added 09/21/11 - Build Events - from the Regional Director
-->> WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES WHILE BUILDING / USING TOOLS <<--
Added 01.17.11 Bottle Rocket Launcher
Photos
These photos show a bottle in a bottle rocketlauncher. This launcher will be used for the Bottle Rocker B 2011 event at the San Diego Regional Competition on February 5, 2011.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Resources:
- National SO Bottle Rocket web page.
- scioly Wiki for 2011
- scioly Forum
______________________________________________________back to DIVISION B LIST