Launch a stomp rocket super far
Build and test a stomp rocket from a plastic bottle, tubing, and paper rocket; stomp to launch it far while exploring air pressure.
Step-by-step guide to launch a stomp rocket super far
DIY Space: Stomp Rockets - Make the Rocket (Part 1)
Step 1
Gather all your materials and go outside to a wide open flat area.
Step 2
Use the ruler and marker to draw a rectangle about 15 cm by 20 cm on your paper.
Step 3
Cut out the rectangle carefully with the scissors.
Step 4
Roll the rectangle into a cone shape with one end slightly narrower and tape the seam to hold the cone.
Step 5
Make a small paper sleeve by rolling a narrow strip into a short tube about 2 cm long and tape it so it keeps its shape.
Step 6
Tape the small sleeve to the narrow end of the cone so the sleeve is centered on the rocket base.
Step 7
Cut three small fins from the extra paper or thin cardboard.
Step 8
Tape the three fins evenly around the base of the cone so the rocket will fly straight.
Step 9
Ask an adult to make a hole in the bottle cap that is just big enough for the tubing to fit snugly.
Step 10
Push one end of the tubing through the hole so the tube fits tightly and seal around the tube with tape for an airtight fit.
Step 11
Screw the cap back onto the bottle tightly.
Step 12
Put the bottle on the ground on its side and lay the tubing straight out toward where the rocket will launch.
Step 13
Slide the paper rocket sleeve onto the free end of the tubing so the rocket sits firmly on the tube.
Step 14
Move at least two meters behind the rocket and stomp down hard once on the bottle to launch the rocket.
Step 15
Share a photo or a story of your stomp rocket build and test on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have the exact tubing or a plastic bottle cap?
Use a narrow garden hose or a cut-down flexible drinking straw pushed through a plastic soda bottle cap and tape around it so it fits snugly and stays airtight when you screw the cap back on.
Why doesn't my rocket launch far or keeps slipping off the tube and how do I fix it?
Check that the small paper sleeve is taped centered to the cone and fits tightly over the tubing, and reseal the bottle cap hole and any seam with extra tape to stop air leaks before you stomp the bottle from at least two meters back.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, have an adult pre-cut the 15 cm by 20 cm rectangle, assemble the sleeve and fins, and let them decorate and stomp under supervision, while older kids can redesign cone dimensions, fin shapes, or tubing length to experiment with flight distance.
How can we make the stomp rocket fly better or personalize it?
Add a small clay or foam nose to the cone tip for better balance, try different fin shapes cut from thin cardboard to reduce wobble, and measure launch distances after each change to find the best design.
Watch videos on how to launch a stomp rocket super far
How to Make a Stomp Rocket | Home Science Experiments | Science Max
3 Videos
How to Make a Stomp Rocket | Home Science Experiments | Science Max
Science Sundays: How to make a stomp rocket
How to Build a Stomp Rocket
Facts about air pressure and stomp rockets
🥾 A stomp sends a quick pulse of compressed air into the bottle — that sudden pressure spike is what launches the rocket!
🎈 Atmospheric pressure outside the bottle pushes back against the air inside, so the bigger the pressure difference, the faster the rocket goes.
📏 Backyard stomp-rockets made from paper and a plastic bottle commonly fly tens of meters — some clever designs reach 20–50 m on a strong stomp.
🧪 Engineers and scientists use the same basic pneumatic ideas (air pressure bursts) in lab equipment and industrial launching systems.
🔁 Stomp rockets are great for repeat experiments: change one thing (angle, rocket weight, or tube length) and you can test dozens of variables in one afternoon.
How do you build and launch a stomp rocket so it flies super far?
What materials do I need to build a stomp rocket from a plastic bottle, tubing, and paper?
What ages is building and launching a stomp rocket suitable for?
What safety tips should I follow when launching a stomp rocket?
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