You will need:
- A small film canister, you can get these on Amazon or eBay or you can get these for free from a photography storeOften the clear styled film canister’s work better, as you can place the bicarbonate paste into the small well that already exists. The other bonus is that the lid tends to be tighter, thereby the rocket flies higher.Alternatively, a mini M&Ms canister with the strap between the lid and canister cut off will work too!
- Vinegar
- Bicarbonate Soda
- Small mixing bowl and spoon
- Water and safety goggles
Take one teaspoon of bicarbonate soda and place it into the dish. Add 5 drops of water and mix into a thick paste.
The paste should stick to the bottom of your finger without falling off.
Use the spoon to pack the bicarbonate soda paste onto the underside of the film canister lid.
Fill your film canister halfway with vinegar. You’re ready for launch!
Gently clip the lid onto the canister, making sure that the whole lid is secure.
Double-check that the children are at least 5 meters back and that you are away from anything that can break above your head.
Making sure your safety goggles are over your eyes, turn the entire film canister upside down onto its lid on a flat surface outside. Stand back and watch it fly!
Get the Unit of Work on Forces here!
- Push, pull
- Friction & spin!
From inertia to centripetal force, this unit covers many concepts about Newton’s Laws!
Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more
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Why Does This Happen?
This is really is just another variation on the standard volcano experiment run in classrooms around the world. The reaction is as follows:
Vinegar + Bicarbonate Soda —> Carbonic Acid + Sodium Acetate
The carbonic acid is unstable though, so it breaks down into liquid water (H20) and carbon dioxide (CO2) as a gas, causing the massive ‘build-up’ of pressure you saw in the experiment. Eventually the gas pressure inside needed to be released; so the lid popped off the canister, pushing against the supporting surface to send the rocket in the air.
Notice the rocket has to push down to go up?
This is yet another simple demonstration of Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Variables to test
- Different amounts of vinegar
- Different amounts of bicarbonate soda
- Does temperature make a difference?
Canister rockets are always fun, but it’s the fair test you can create where the learning happens #BEEINS19 #BeInspirational @FizzicsEd pic.twitter.com/7fsKGJr1tl
— Ash (@ashsix4) March 30, 2019
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