| How to Build a Bottle Rocket Posted: 24 Aug 2019 05:00 PM PDT A bottle rocket is fun and easy to make. You can build and launch a simple bottle rocket by recycling materials you might find lying around at home. [Edit]Making a One Bottle Rocket with a Launcher - Roll a piece of paper into a cone. This will be the nose cone of the rocket. Feel free to use colored or patterned paper to design the rocket.[1]
- Colored construction paper is both durable and nice-looking!
- Wrap the nose cone with duct tape. This will have it stronger and more water-resistant.
- If you want to add a bit of color to your rocket, you can use colored duct tape to wrap the nose cone.
- You can also paint the plastic bottle if you'd like to decorate it further. Feel free to also add a design or logo to the plastic bottle (or body of) the rocket.
- Attach the nose cone to the bottom of the bottle. You can glue it or use duct tape and, if you have it, wire tape.
- Try to put it on a straight as you can onto the bottle and make sure it is secure.[2]
- Take thin cardboard and cut out 3-4 triangles. Since these will be the fins of your rocket, try to cut them at right angles so they can help the rocket stand straight.
- Use cardboard, construction paper, or normal paper as material for the fins. Sign boards, such as the ones that say "For Rent" or "For Sale" are also very good fin material.
- Place the fins on the lower part of the rocket.
- Bend "tabs" into the sides of the fins so that they can attach to the rocket body more easily. Then, tape or glue them on.
- If you line up the bottoms of the fins with the bottom of the rocket, it should be able to stand on its own.
- Add ballast to give the rocket weight. Ballast can be any material that provides weight for the rocket and ensures the rocket can coast once it is launched. The mass should be *above* the fins. The farther the better.
- Use Play Doh or clay as ballast as it is soft, malleable, and unlike pebbles or marbles, won't fall out or scatter when the rocket launches.[3]
- Mold about half a cup of Play Doh or clay into the ridges on the bottom of the bottle to form a rounded end on the outside of the bottle.
- Cover it with duct tape to keep it secure.
- Fill up the bottle with water. Pour of water into the bottle.[4]
- Make a very small hole through a cork. Make sure the hole is the same size as the valve of your bicycle pump valve.
- Stuff the cork into the bottle opening. You can also wedge it in with pliers for a tighter squeeze.
- Place the needle-like valve of a bicycle pump into the opening of the cork. Make sure it fits into the cork tightly.
- Turn the rocket right-side up. Hold it by the neck of the bottle onto the bicycle pump valve, and aim it away from your face.
- Launch the bottle rocket. Make sure you are in an open, outdoor area. The rocket will shoot up quite fast and high so remove any obstructions and warn anyone around you before you launch it. To launch the rocket:[5]
- Hold the rocket by the neck of the bottle and pump air into it. The rocket will go off when the cork can no longer withstand the pressure building up in the bottle.[6]
- Let go of the bottle. The water will shoot out everywhere when the bottle rocket takes off, so be prepared to get a bit wet.
- Do not approach the rocket once you start pumping, even if it appears that nothing is happening with the launch, as this can lead to injury.[7]
[Edit]Making a Two Bottle Rocket with a Launcher - Cut off the cap end of one of the bottles. Use scissors or a box cutter. You want a nice, clean cut so the bottles can be taped together cleanly and straight.[8]
- Cutting off the cap end of the bottle will make the rocket more aerodynamic and durable. A rounded end is also softer so it will do less damage to any objects if the rocket hits something when it lands.
- Keep the other bottle intact. It will act as the firing chamber that will hold the water and pressurized air. It will also be attached to the launcher, or other bottle.
- Add any decorative paint or designs to the bottles. Feel free to personalize the two bottle rocket with any logos or patterns. Be creative!
- Put ballast into the cut bottle. You can use Play Doh, similar to the procedure for the one bottle rocket, or kitty litter. Kitty litter is cheap, heavy, and when wet, will stay in place well.[9]
- To put in the kitty litter, tip the cut bottle and pour in about ½ inch of kitty litter. Then, add enough water to wet the kitty litter completely. Add another ¼ inch of kitty litter and soak it again.
- Avoid dumping in too much kitty litter as this can create a dry layer of kitty litter than could get loose and scatter when the rocket is launched. Too much kitty litter, or weight, in the rocket, can also cause the rocket to hit hard when it comes down.
- Dry the inside walls of the bottle and use duct tape to help hold the kitty litter in place.
- Tape together the two bottles. Line them up so that the cut bottle is on the bottom of the intact bottle. Press the bottles together, so that the edge of bottom, cut bottle goes over the intact bottle and tape them together with duct tape.[10]
- Take thin cardboard and cut out 3-4 triangles. These will be the fins of your rocket, so try to cut them at perfect right angles. This way, they will hold the two bottle rocket straight and make sure it coasts smoothly.
- Place the fins on the lower part of the cut bottle.
- Bend "tabs" into the sides of the fins so that they can attach to the rocket body more easily. Then, tape or glue them on.
- Make a very small hole in a cork. Ensure the hole is the same size as the valve of your bicycle pump valve.
- Stuff the cork into the opening of the intact bottle. You can also wedge it in with pliers for a tighter fit.
- Place the needle-like valve of a bicycle pump into the opening of the cork. Make sure it fits into the cork tightly.
- Turn the rocket right-side up. Hold it by the neck of the bottle and place it onto the bicycle pump valve.
- Launch the bottle rocket. Make sure you are in an open, outdoor area. The rocket will shoot up quite fast and high so remove any obstructions and warn anyone around you before you launch it. To launch the rocket:[11]
- Pump air into the bottle. The rocket will go off when the cork can no longer withstand the pressure building up in the bottle.[12] This is usually at around 80 psi.[13]
- Release the bottle. The water will shoot out everywhere when the bottle rocket takes off, so be prepared to get a bit wet.
- Be cautious once you start pumping and do not approach the rocket, even if it appears that nothing is happening with the launch, as this can lead to injury.[14]
[Edit]Warnings - Be careful when using sharp objects to cut the bottle or the cardboard, especially if you are under 10 years old.
- Keep your watchers (spectators) away from at least 5 meters.
[Edit]Things You'll Need Method 1: - For the rocket:
- A sheet of 8" x 11" paper
- A bottle (a 2-litre bottle works great for a regular sized rocket, but if you want to build a mini-rocket, you can use a regular sized water bottle)
- Fin material (thick cardstock or thin cardboard would work well)
- Duct tape (to decorate and hold together your rocket)
- Scissors
- Play Doh or clay
- Glue (optional)
- For the rocket launcher:
- Water
- Bicycle pump with needle valve
- Cork
- Drill
- Drill bit the size of the bicycle pump valve
Method 2: - For the rocket:
- Two bottles (two 2-litre bottles, or two regular sized water bottles)
- Fin material
- Scissors
- Duct tape
- Play Doh or kitty litter
- For the rocket launcher:
- Water
- Bicycle pump with needle valve
- Cork
- Drill
- Drill bit the size of the bicycle pump valve
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Cure a Dog's Bad Breath Posted: 24 Aug 2019 09:00 AM PDT While it's ideal to prevent your dog from getting bad breath in the first place by doing things like brushing its teeth properly, there's still hope if your canine pal already has stinky breath. You can try various home remedies to mask its bad breath, and make some dietary and lifestyle changes in hopes of improving the situation. However, bad breath can also be a sign of larger health issues, so it's always advisable to take your dog in for regular vet checkups. Or, if your dog's breath turns foul all of a sudden, contact your vet right away. [Edit]Trying Home Remedies for Bad Breath - Add snips of mint, parsley, or wheatgrass to their food. The chlorophyll that makes these herbs green also has potential breath-freshening benefits. Use scissors or your fingers to finely snip or tear up about 1 tsp (5 g) of one or more of the herbs, then sprinkle it on top of your dog's food each day.[1]
- These herbs, like most home remedies for bad breath, only mask the stink. They don't address underlying causes like periodontal disease or other illnesses. It's always advisable to get regular veterinary check-ups that involve oral health evaluations.
- Pour of coconut oil over their food. Coconut oil has become very popular in recent years (for people and pups) due to a host of potential health benefits attached to it. Among other things, it's claimed to help freshen bad doggy breath. Use up to on their food each mealtime and see if you notice an improvement in your dog's breath.[2]
- Dogs typically like the smell and taste of coconut oil, so you probably won't have a problem getting them to eat it with their food.
- However, keep in mind that coconut oil is very high in calories. Don't feed it to your dog too often, and stop using it if the dog gains weight. Additionally, coconut oil is high in fat, so it isn't right for every dog, especially those prone to pancreatitis.
- If they don't care for coconut oil, try parsley, cinnamon, dental chews, or another option.
- Put a pinch of cinnamon into their dog food. Cinnamon, like coconut oil, has many presumed health benefits attached to it. In this case, though, it's mostly being used as a masking agent to cover up bad breath.[3]
- Don't add more than a pinch of cinnamon to your dog's food at each mealtime, or the flavor and scent may be too intense for their liking.
- Try doggy dental chews with chlorophyll. Canine dental chews are widely available at pet supply stores, large retailers, and online. Look for chews that include chlorophyll as well as cinnamon and clove for the best chance of getting fresh breath results.[4]
- Dental chews come in various sizes and shapes, and can be fed as treats or chew snacks. Follow the package instructions or consult your vet regarding how often to give your dog dental chews.
- Enhance their regular water with doggy dental water additives. There are numerous dental water additives to choose from, and most of them involve mixing in a small amount to your dog's regular water supply. In simple terms, this dental water is meant to function as a drinkable mouthwash.[5]
- Check the dental water package for directions on using it.
[Edit]Changing Mouth Care and Eating Habits - Brush their teeth regularly with doggy toothpaste. Most dogs will accept daily teeth brushing as part of their routine if you use the proper tools and give them positive encouragement throughout the process. If your dog is very resistant or you're afraid they'll bite you, talk to your vet for advice.[6]
- Never use human toothpaste on dogs. You should also use a toothbrush designed for dogs.
- It's best to get them in the habit at a young age—you can start brushing their teeth at around 8 weeks.
- Provide them with breed- and age-appropriate chew toys. Chew toys not only keep dogs occupied, they also help remove tartar buildup that can cause bad breath. Pick out chew toys that are the right size for your dog—big dogs shouldn't get tiny chew toys they might choke on, and little dogs shouldn't get giant chew toys that are too big for their mouth.[7]
- Consult your vet about the best kind of chew toys for your dog. Unless otherwise recommended, avoid using bones or antlers, which can break teeth.
- You can also find dental chew toys that are either coated or filled with a small amount of doggy toothpaste.
- Feed the dog a balanced diet. A high-quality, vet-recommended dog food that is suited to your particular dog is good for their overall health. It's also less likely to cause tooth decay, diabetes, or other causes of bad breath.[8]
- Cut back on table scraps and dog treats. Focus on providing them with a nutritious diet.
- Check the ingredients of your dog's food to make sure it doesn't contain cheap fillers or fish meal. These ingredients can cause your dog to have smelly breath.
- Ask your vet about giving your dog a snack of cut apples and/or carrots each day. These crunchy treats can help to remove stinky tartar from their teeth.[9]
- Restrict their access to trash, dead animals, and/or poop. In many cases, dogs have bad breath because they eat really smelly things. If your dog gets into the trash, snacks on roadkill, or eats cat poop (or its own poop), you shouldn't be surprised if their breath is foul.[10]
- Remove kitchen trash from your home regularly, and make sure the trash can has a secure lid. Likewise make sure that your outside garbage cans have secure lids.
- Use a leash to keep your dog away from dead animals and restrain them from catching animals.
- Dogs that eat the feces of cats or other animals, or even their own poop, have a condition known as coprophagia. While there is the chance of them picking up illnesses this way, the main problem is usually the bad breath it causes.
- Give your dog daily canine probiotics. In dogs as in people, probiotics are intended to restore the proper balance of healthy bacteria to the digestive system. Mouth and digestive bacteria can trigger bad breath, so daily use of probiotics may help improve your dog's breath.[11]
- Ask your vet if probiotics are right for your dog.
- Use probiotics marketed for dogs, not humans.
- Don't expect immediate breath-freshening results with probiotics—give them daily for at least a few weeks.
[Edit]Checking for Infections or Diseases - Schedule a vet checkup and ask about a dental cleaning. If your dog has persistent bad breath, or you notice their breath turning especially foul, call your vet for an appointment. They'll likely check your dog for dental problems or mouth infections, which are both possible causes of bad breath, and may do further testing as needed.[12]
- If your dog has heavy tartar buildup on their teeth or signs of periodontal disease, your vet may do a dental cleaning. Your dog will need to be sedated for this procedure, and severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted.[13]
- Recognize sweet, fruity breath as a potential sign of diabetes. While it may seem like a pleasant change from truly foul doggy breath, overly-sweet-smelling dog breath can indicate diabetes. Your vet will likely to blood testing and other diagnostic tests to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.[14]
- Diabetes is a serious condition, but typically a treatable one in dogs.
- Treat urine-scented breath as a possible signal of kidney issues. Some dogs eat feces, but they don't drink urine. So, if your dog has breath that smells like urine, take them to the vet to check for possible kidney problems.[15]
- Urine-scented breath can indicate a wide range of kidney troubles. Some may be very treatable, while others can be extremely serious. It's important to get a vet's diagnosis.
- Suspect liver problems if bad breath is combined with other specific symptoms. If your dog is suffering from a liver disorder, they'll likely have truly foul bad breath combined with one or more of the following: vomiting; loss of appetite; or yellowish gums. Make a vet appointment right away if you recognize these symptoms.[16]
- Many, but not all, liver disorders can be life-threatening, so don't delay in getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for your canine pal.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make a Wasp Trap Posted: 24 Aug 2019 01:00 AM PDT When wasps make a nest too close to home, they can pose a danger to people and household pets. While you can purchase wasp traps, they are often sticky and difficult to set up. Instead, try making your own reusable wasp trap out a plastic bottle, and some enticing bait like meat, sugar, or dish soap. This homemade wasp trap will not only be effective in catching the wasps, but it will also be easy for you to set up and maintain. [Edit]Making the Wasp Trap - Remove the labels from a plastic soda bottle. You want to be able to easily see through the bottle; otherwise, you won't know whether you caught any wasps or not. If the bottle you selected has labels that cannot be removed, you can use that bottle, but know that it will be harder to check on.[1]
- You don't have to use a plastic bottle to create this wasp trap. You can use a different type of plastic bottle or carton to make this trap, but make sure that the opening of the bottle or carton is large enough for the wasp to crawl through.[2]
- Draw a line with a marker around the neck of the plastic bottle. The line should be just under the neck of the bottle and where the mid-section of the bottle becomes a straight cylinder. The line does not have to perfectly straight as it is just to help guide you when cutting the bottle.[3]
- For a carton, draw the line around the top portion of the carton, just under the natural crease that forms the triangular top.
- Cut the neck off the plastic bottle along the marked line. You can use a razor knife, a pair of scissors, or whatever you are most comfortable using. The implement just needs to be sharp enough to cut through the bottle.[4]
- When you make your first cut, the plastic bottle can be slippery, so take your time and be careful not to cut yourself. To reduce slippage, place the bottle on a slightly damp cloth or towel. This will create needed traction to hold the bottle steady.
- You are going to need both the base and neck portions of the bottle to make this trap, so cut along your line.
- Using a paper towel, grease the inside of the bottle and funnel with olive oil. This will create an additional slippery barrier that the wasps will be unable to climb. It is not necessary to do this, as the oil can become tacky over time if you do not maintain it or clean the bottle periodically, but it can make the trap temporarily more effective. Instead of olive oil, you can also use petroleum jelly.[5]
- Flip the neck upside-down, and place the neck into the bottle. The neck of the bottle will serve as a funnel for the wasps to enter, but not exit, the trap. Make sure to remove the cap before placing the neck into the bottle. This is the opening where the wasps will be entering.[6]
- Tape the two pieces together along the cut edges. The tape will hold the funnel in place. It is best to use a clear packing tape to do this, so you can easily see when a wasp is inside the trap.[7]
- For tape that is not clear, like duct tape, cut the strip in half to keep the band of tape as narrow as possible.
- Make two holes on opposite sides of the funnel's edge. Use a hole-puncher, scissors, or another pointy implement to make the 2 holes. Just be careful when making the holes, so you do not injure yourself.[8]
- Tie the ends of a long string to each punched hole. This will create a handle so you can hang your wasp trap. You can use any type of string you have around, but try to pick one that is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the trap, and any wind that might blow it around.[9]
- A sturdy twine or even an old shoelace would work well as a handle for the wasp trap.
[Edit]Baiting and Setting up the Trap - Use grease or meat scraps as bait during spring and early summer. Dilute the mixture with some water to create a solution that will aid in drowning the wasps. In the spring and early summer months, the wasps will be focusing on making nests and laying eggs, so the wasps will be out looking for protein.[10]
- If you use meat during this time, you may even catch the queen wasp, which will force the rest of the nest to relocate.
- Bait the trap with something sweet during late summer and early fall. Mix the sweet substance with water and liquid dish soap. In the later summer and early fall months, the wasps want more energy, so they will be looking for something sweet. The dish soap will break the surface tension of the water and drown the wasp. Some sweet options include: sugar, lemon juice, or vinegar. You may have to experiment with the type and amount of sweet options to attract the wasps.[11]
- You can increase the amounts of water and soap as needed to fill your trap, but try and keep a ratio of of liquid dish soap for every } of water.[12]
- If you do not want to drown the wasp, but instead release it, do not add dish soap to the bait solution. Using dish soap will coat any wasps that escape and eventually suffocate the wasps.[13]
- Pour the mixed bait solution into the funnel of the wasp trap. The bait solution should not cover the opening of the bottle as this will prevent the wasps from entering the trap. You want about of the solution inside of the bottle. This will force the wasps to completely enter the trap in order to access the bait.[14]
- If you are not using a plastic bottle, and the bottle you chose instead is short, add less solution. You want at least of space between the baiting solution and the opening of the funnel inside of the shorter trap.
- If you are planning on releasing the wasps, then only add of the solution to the bottle. This will be enough solution to attract the wasp, but not enough to drown them.
- Set up your trap outside on the ground or hang it up. Stand the trap on a small table or stool so it is slightly elevated from the ground. You can also hang the trap from a fence post or a low tree branch as well. Traps that are hung about from the ground tend to catch more wasps than traps left on the ground.[15]
- Since the trap will be attracting wasps, you don't want to place it in an area close to where you frequently hang out or work. A good distance would be about away from your main gathering area outside.[16]
[Edit]Removing the Wasps and Refilling the Bait - Check the wasp trap daily. You want to make sure that you are using the right bait and placing your trap in the right spot to attract the wasps. At least for the first few days or until you know the wasp trap is working, check on the wasp trap at least once a day.[17]
- If you do not seem to be catching any wasps, try relocating the trap to another area where you know you have seen the wasps, or try a different bait solution combination.
- Undo the tape on the trap, and clean it out every 3 days. If you leave the trap unattended, the dead wasps will float on the surface of the bait solution and create a platform for other wasps to rest on. Make sure that all of the wasps in the trap are dead before removing the tape. Any wasps that are left alive in the trap will most likely be very aggressive.[18]
- Release living wasps with extreme caution. Unlike bees, wasps are aggressive by nature. You can release the wasps if you want, but do it away from your property and not in a place where other people hang out. Wasps will alert the rest of the colony if given the chance, so do not release the wasp near the nest. If there are uninhabited woods or fields down the road from you, try releasing the wasps there.[19]
- If you are going to release any living wasps, make sure to wear gloves, and clothing that will cover your arms and legs.[20]
- Bury or flush the dead wasps to avoid attracting others. Wasps are notorious for attacking in groups if they sense another wasp is in danger of being harmed. The dead body of a wasp will release a chemical that will attract the rest of the wasp colony. Just simply dumping the bodies of the wasps or tossing them into a trash can will only attract more nearby wasps.[21]
- Tape the wasp trap together again, and refill it with your bait solution. Unlike traditional sticky wasp traps, this homemade wasp trap can be used repeatedly. You just have to make more of your bait solution, and refill it.[22]
- Also apply more of the olive oil or petroleum jelly if you used that to coat the inside of your trap.
- If the trap develops a rotting or sour smell, rinse it with hot water before filling it with more bait solution. If the smell persists, you may want to consider making another wasp trap, or using vinegar in the trap to combat the smell.
- This is a measure to minimize wasp presence, not eliminate it — unless you catch a queen. The only way to keep wasps away completely is to remove the wasp nest. If you want the nest removed, call a professional to safely accomplish this.[23]
[Edit]Warnings - Do not add honey to your trap. This will attract more bees than wasps.[24]
- Do not place the trap anywhere near where children or pets will be spending time. The wasps will be attracted to the trap, so you do not want it in a popular hangout area on your property.[25]
- Be careful when handling the wasps. Even if the wasp is dead, the stinger is still active and can puncture you. If you are allergic to wasps and get stung once or multiple times, seek medical help immediately. Even if you are not allergic to wasp stings, receiving multiple stings can require medical attention.[26]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - soda bottle
- Sharp razor blade, or scissors to cut the bottle
- Hole-puncher
- Packing tape or Duct tape
- long piece of string
- Water
- Liquid dish soap
- Sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, meat grease, or meat scraps
- Olive oil, or petroleum jelly (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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