How do you create a water rocket with baking soda and water?

Question

I need to build a water rocket. I need step by step directions? If it needs a launch pad i need to know how or what to use? I am using this to present to kindergardeners. So it needs to be safe/.

Answer 1

This is always a fun project. I would suggest a rocket based upon baking soda (very safe) instead of water. Howerver, if you have your heart set on a water rocket please let me know and I can help you with that also.

To create a film canister rocket follow these procedures:

Materials:

baking soda
Plastic film canister, where lid is male.
8 1/2 x 11 paper
tape
scissors
water
alka-seltzer
rocket template
vinegar
baking soda
chalk
soda bottle
balloons
cork to fit soda bottle

Strategy:

Pour a tablespoon of water into a film can.

Drop a 1/2 seltzer tablet into the water. Notice the fizz.

Break up two seltzer tablets and place them into the soda bottle.

Pour 1/4 cup of water into the bottle and quickly put the opening of the balloon over the top of the bottle.

Swish the contents of the bottle around several times and observe what happens to the balloon. The balloon should blow up.

Pour another tablespoon of water into the film can and drop in another 1/2 seltzer tablet.

Snap on the lid of the film can, and stand back. The lid should come off with a pop.

Repeat step 5 + 6 using the baking soda and vinegar. Rap some baking soda in a piece of light paper to delay the reaction some so you can get the film can lid on.

You may repeat steps 5 + 6 again, this time using a small piece of chalk and vinegar. This however may take some time, as the chalk dissolves very slowly.

Repeat steps 5 + 6 using any combination of fuel, the soda bottle and the cork on top. Do this one outside however, as the cork may come off with considerable force. Put the cork on snuggly.

The culminating event is to use the rocket template (click here for the template) to make a rocket out of a film canister.

Take the film canister and place it upside down.

Take an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, and tape it to the film canister, leaving the lid portion about 1/4'' from the bottom of the paper.

Roll the paper around the film canister creating a fuselage.
Using the rocket template, cut off the corners, fold them at the perforated line, and tape them to the bottom of the rocket slightly above the film canister. These are your fins. Should have at least three.

Cut out the center circle from the template, and cut the slit that is marked to the center of the circle. Twist it around to make a cone for the tip of the rocket. Tape it on. With a little decorating, your rocket is now ready.

Try the various fuels to propel your rocket, and record the results. If the paper on the rocket gets too wet, make another rocket, they are easy.

Wrap Up:

When you added the seltzer tablets to water, a chemical reaction took place producing gas bubbles. You could hear the gas fizzing in both the open film can and the bottle. It was the gas from the seltzer that blew up the balloon and it was the pressure of this gas that popped the top of the film can.

What Happened?

When a seltzer tablet dissolves in water, a chemical change takes place and carbon dioxide gas (CO2) is formed. Most seltzer tablets contain a base called sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and dehydrated citric acid. When the tablet is place in contact with the water, the citric acid combines with the baking soda. Acids and bases undergo a chemical reaction when they mix, producing a gas and salt. In the closed container, the newly created gas has no place to go since the closed container is already full of air. This is like trying to add more air to a balloon that is already full. The pressure inside the container eventually escapes by blowing up the balloon, blowing out the cork, or blowing off the lid. This is the same thing that happens when you open a can of soda. You notice the fizz that it makes. The carbon dioxide rushes out, making a woosh sound.

Have fun!

Answer 2

You need a small container with a friction fit. Maybe an old lipstick or even a capped tube about 1/2 in dia. and maybe 3-4" long. Also a cork, a thumbtack, and a piece of cardboard or pasteboard.
Attach the cork to the pasteboard with the thumbtack, make sure the cork is a tight fit for the tube. Fill the tube 1/2 way with vinegar, drop in a compressed ball of baking soda, close it quickly, and set it down. After a few seconds, enough pressure should build up to set it off.

You might also consider doing a bigger rocket with mentos and diet Pepsi. You can use the cork with an old water bottle for that one! Just stick the mentos to the cork so it doesn't drop into the cola while you're putting them together. Then when you set it down right side up... VOOSH!

Answer 3

Bicarbonate Of Soda Rocket

Answer 4

It might work better with vinegar and baking soda. Look up baking soda and vinegar reactions and see if there are instructions for a rocket.

Answer 5

i like to do mine on animals but u could do which tooth paste whitens better or evolution vs creation that should stir things up a bit umm a planet umm the laws of gravitational force the two calendars or if a mouse uses it nose or hearing to find food you make a maze and put food at the end and play music while its going through the maze and watch the behavior of the mouse thats all i can think of but make sure u choose something ur interested in

Answer 6

if want something better you can use soft drink and mintos or mentos, is the type of candy mint.