The V-shaped nose helps it cut through the air as it flies the fins help keep the rocket moving in a straight line. Your paper rocket has been designed to move through the air efficiently, too. Things that are designed to travel quickly, such as sports cars and jets, are shaped to minimize the amount of air they push aside to move forward. In order to move through the air, a rocket has to push air aside.

Be sure to tape both sides of each fin to the rocket. Tape the fins to the sides of the rocket at the base.Draw a line from one corner of the rectangle to the other, cut along it through both halves, and you’ll have four triangular fins (see photo below). Then unfold it, cut along the fold line, and stack the two halves. To make them from a 3 x 5 index card, fold the card in half to make a short rectangle. Finally, you can add fins, which will help your rocket fly straight.Use tape to seal the point so it’s airtight. Slip it off the pipe, and then, using your scissors, clip one end of the tube in a V to make the pointed “nose” of the rocket (see photo below). Tape the paper tube so it stays rolled up.Don’t roll the paper too tight you should be able to easily slide it off. To make the rocket’s body, roll a sheet of 8.5 x 11 (A4) paper into a cylinder that will fit over the launcher-end of your PVC assembly (see photo below).Slip the 2-liter bottle over the end of the longest piece of PVC pipe and you’re ready for launch!.Notice that the angle can be changed by rotating the elbow relative to the base of the launcher. This is the part of the launcher where the rocket goes. Add the third 1-foot (30-cm) length of PVC pipe to the end of the elbow.

Add the PVC elbow, facing upward, to the open end of the 3-inch (8-cm) length of pipe.Put an end cap on each of the ends of the two 1-foot (30-cm) lengths of PVC pipe that you just added to the quad joint.Add a 1-foot (30-cm) length of PVC pipe to each of the remaining openings on the quad joint.Attach your longest and shortest pieces of PVC pipe to opposite sides of the quad joint.If you’re using a hacksaw blade, wrap one end with duct tape to make a 'handle' so you can safely cut the pipe. If they cannot accommodate this request, you’ll also need a hacksaw blade or PVC cutters. Ask your hardware store to saw your PVC pipe into the lengths you need. Note: The exact lengths of the PVC are not critical. Optional: a second PVC elbow, another 1-foot (30-cm) length of PVC pipe, and one PVC T-joint (all schedule 40, 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) inner diameter).Card stock (or any stiff paper, such as used file folders or 3 x 5 index cards).Approximately 1 foot (30 cm) of the same PVC pipe used for your rocket launcher (or use the launcher itself).One sheet of 8.5 x 11 (A4) paper for each rocket you want to make.Hacksaw or PVC cutting tool (see note below).One PVC quad joiner, schedule 40, to fit PVC pipe above.Two PVC end caps, schedule 40, to fit PVC pipe above.One PVC elbow, schedule 40, to fit PVC pipe above.One 3-inch (8-cm) length of PVC pipe, schedule 40, 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) inner diameter (see note below).Three 1-foot (30-cm) lengths of PVC pipe, schedule 40, 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) inner diameter (see note below).One 4-foot (122 cm) length of PVC pipe, schedule 40, 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) inner diameter (see note below).Two empty 2-liter soda bottles (one is for the launcher the other is a spare).

Stomp rocket