HELP How much weight does my water rocket need?

[Jwryan0504]

Hi all!
I have entered a a water rocket competition. The rockets in this competition will be launched at 60 psi. We have to launch the rockets horizontally and to hit a round landing site 100 meters(approximately 328.084 ft) away and 30 meters (approximately 98.4252 ft) wide. I am not good at physics, so can anyone help me? How much should my whole rocket should weight to hit the center of the target? And also, how much water should i fill in?

 

[Travis_King]

Horizontally, as in 0 degree inclination? or horizontally as in "some angle in the direction of the target" That's a big difference.

 

[Jwryan0504]

Sorry, I forgot to add in: the rocket must be at a 45 degree angle from the ground. Thanks!

 

[Travis_King]

Well, what work have you completed so far?

Have you identified any useful equations?

State your knowns and unknowns, so you can visualize the problem and use what you know to develop a solution.

 

[PJC01]

Hello! It's great that you are participating in a water rocket competition. To determine how much weight your rocket needs, we need to consider a few factors. First, the weight of your rocket should be enough to withstand the pressure of 60 psi and maintain its structural integrity during launch. This will depend on the materials used and the design of your rocket.

Secondly, the weight of your rocket will also affect its trajectory and distance. Too heavy and it may not reach the target, too light and it may not have enough momentum to hit the target accurately. To determine the optimal weight, you can use a simulation or conduct test launches with different weights to see which one performs best.

In terms of how much water to fill in, it will also depend on the design of your rocket and the amount of pressure you want to build up inside. Generally, the more water you fill in, the higher the pressure and the greater the thrust. However, too much water can also make the rocket too heavy and affect its trajectory. Again, testing and simulations can help determine the optimal amount of water to fill in.

Overall, it's important to carefully consider the weight and water volume of your rocket to ensure it can reach the target accurately and safely. Good luck with your competition!