DIY Flying Cups

Materials you'll need

• Foam cups (same size)
• Tape
• Rubber bands

 

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1: Grab 2 foam cups that are the same size.

Step 2: Line up the ends of the two cups and wrap tape around the seam to join them into one long rocket shape.

Step 3: Grab 3–4 rubber bands.

Step 4: Loop the rubber bands through one another, one at a time, to chain them into a single long, stretchy strand.

Step 5: Wrap one end of the rubber band chain around the taped middle of your cup rocket and pull it snug so it stays in place.

Step 6: Hold the rocket by the taped middle, pull the rubber band chain back like a slingshot, and let go to launch it flying.

Learn more

This rocket runs on elastic potential energy — the stored energy inside a stretched material that's ready to spring back to its original shape. When you pull the rubber band chain back, you stretch it out and load it up with that stored energy. The instant you let go, the bands snap back toward their normal length, and most of that stored energy transfers into your cup rocket, sending it soaring. The farther back you stretch the chain, the more energy you store — and the higher and farther your rocket will fly.