You'll see these in toy stores, but why not design your own version? You can add weight to the nose, widen the fins, and lengthen the slingshot part to figure out how to get to to soar further.
Materials:
- foam tube (I used a piece of foam from 3/4" pipe insulation, but you can also use a paper towel tube)
- foam sheet
- film canister or other small container to hold the rubber band in place (or tape the rubber bands to the outside using duct tape)
- paper clip
- 5 to 8 rubber bands
- scissors
- hot glue gun
- duct tape
I think these will fly better because of the stabilizing fins. But, it sounds like a good experiment for you!
This one looks a lot like the “Slingshot Bats” Halloween project. Which one flies better?
Loved the part where you set off the smoke alarm!
Sofia
Two different ways – you can cut out fin shapes from foam sheets and attach them with hot glue or masking tape, or you can put a wide piece of tape (like duct tape) and fold it back on itself the same way we did in the “Straw Rocket” experiment.
How do you make fins for this slingshot rocket.
Try having him hold the rubber band at the very tip of his finger, or even at the tip of a fingernail, so he doesn’t get snapped. You can also use the tip of a stick instead of your finger – younger students seem to like this a lot.
We had fun building this but it has yet to fly more than a few feet. My son is still learning how to shoot it without getting snapped too. Any suggestions?
This seems very fun. can’t wait to try it out.