How to make a film canister rocket science experiments. You could wrap a piece of construction paper around the film canister and cut the paper so it just covers the canister s sides but does not go above or below the sides. You only need a few items for this activity, and the kids will beg to do. Step 6 hold the rocket upside down and add water to the canister to onequarter full. The table pushes back with the same force sending the canister upwards briefly. Safety glasses should always be worn, and rockets should never be.
Build your own rocket using paper and fizzing tablets. With the lid snapped on, the continuous creation of gas causes pressure to build up until the lid pops off, sending the rocket into the air. Alkaseltzer film canister rocket for kids science kiddo. Alkaseltzer rocket race chemistry science fair project. This is a fun little howto showing what happens when you put some baking soda and vinegar in a film canistar. Making film canisters pop their top is a pretty cool activity but its not a science fair project. A popular science project is mixing baking soda and vinegar in a rocket or race car made out of a plastic water bottle. Gas inside the canister escapes and pushes against the table. Attaching the parabola nose cone to the rocket proved to be the best way to reduce the drag on the rocket and allow it to stay in the air the longest.
When the film canisters are loaded with various reactive chemicals that produce a gas, students can run trials to determine with variable gives the best lift off or movement of the canister. Kids and adults will have a blast with this cool kitchen science experiment. Keep back though, or youll stink like your homemade rocket fuel. Often the clear styled film canisters work better, as you can place the bicarbonate paste into the small well that already exists. Whats also great about this project is that it can be easily turned into a science fair project lets science short version of the experiment tl. First the rocket lifts off because it is acted upon by an external force. The gas in this experiment is nothing more than bubbles of carbon dioxide and the explosion is nothing short of fun. The formula used for rocket science is known as tsiolkovsky rocket equation or ideal rocket equation. How to set up your alka seltzer film canister rocket. First the rocket lifts off because it is acted upon by an. If you dont have alkaseltzer, you can substitute it with baking soda, then substitute the water with vinegar. Our film canister rockets and these lesson ideas will support your students understanding of these next generation science standards ngss.
Aug 14, 2019 wow the kids this autumn and make ghost rockets. Experimenting with film canister rockets is a fun and engaging way for kids to learn simple chemistry. This is purely educational, and demonstrates the reaction of an alkaseltzer tablet, toilet paper, and water. What is rocket science formula, fuel used and cause of thrust. If you want, you may decorate your film canister rocket. Mixing the fuel and oxidizer together correctly is complicated and something that real rocket scientists work hard to perfect. Rockets are a common project for science classes, and a student has many options to choose from when it comes to this type of assignment. The little canisters that hold 35 mm film work great, but i couldnt dig any of those up. Hold the rocket upside down and add water to the canister to onequarter full. How to make a film canister rocket what you need for a film canister rocket. Today, we combined the two to make flying ghost rockets. I bought these to use in my science classroom for film canister rockets. One fizzing antacid tablet such as alkaseltzer get this. The propulsion of rockets is based on a fundamental kind of motion and one needs to be familiar with newtons laws of motion to understand it.
One of the best things about this activity is that you can do it at home and you can design some pretty sophisticated experiments around it. The rocket film canister can be loaded with baking soda and vinegar. Students design and build paper rockets around film canisters, which serve as engines. How to fuel a film canister rocket with that famous bubbling tablet. Find easy science experiments, watch experiment videos, and get science fair ideas from science bob. These actions or forces cause the film canister to launch into the air. The gas is what causes bubbles and foam when the two ingredients are mixed. An antacid tablet and water are put into each canister, reacting to form carbon dioxide gas, and acting as the pop rocket s propellant. Create a film canister rocket that uses the chemical reaction of alkaseltzer and water to create gas and energy and launch.
Paper, regular 812 by 11inch paper, such as computer printer paper or even notebook paper. Film canister rockets are perfect for demonstrating newtons laws of motion. I just used a different snap top bottle and it worked fine. The film canister must be one with a cap that fits inside the rim instead of over. Film canisters were great for science fair rocketryhowever, the protocol for the experiment found online needs to be tweaked. In this chemistry science fair project, you will become a rocket scientist, but instead of using rocket fuel and oxidizers, you will use baking soda sodium bicarbonate, or nahco 3 and vinegar acetic acid, or ch 3. Tape it in place so that the open end of the canister sticks out at the bottom. Pop your top film canister explosions steve spangler science. When the baking soda and vinegar react, it creates a carbon dioxide gas. Step 7 add half a tablet of alkaseltzer to the film canister and quickly snap on the lid.
A small film canister, you can often pick these up for free. How to make a film canister rocket science experiments for kids. Film canister rockets are a favorite experiment at imagination station. Making a dry ice rocket rainbow is an amazing and exciting dry ice experiment for kids. This system of thrust is exactly how real rockets work, only they use rocket fuel instead of alkaseltzer. A little water, an alkaseltzer tablet, and one of our film canisters, and youve got a rocket.
Science bob and jimmy kimmel launch over 1,000 film canisters duration. Mar 18, 2010 disclaimer and safety precautions provides the science fair project ideas for informational purposes only. May 18, 2015 along with erupting volcanoes, magic milk, and a lava lamp, film canister rockets are a must do science experiment for kids of all ages. No matter how simple the project, however, you need to be careful when shooting off the rocket to prevent injury. Turn the film canister upside down and slide it lid first into the tube. Our canisters are the perfect canisters to use for film canister rockets see experiment link below. Make a balloon rocket car with this fun science project. Our rockets flew about six inches, compared to 1620 feet with.
After each trial, write down the amount of water you used in the film canister, the size of the piece of alka seltzer this should not change, and the distance the film canister traveled. Launch the rocket outdoors to prevent it from colliding with any breakables and reduce the risk of injury. What amount of water mixed with a quarter piece of alka seltzer tablet produces the best rocket fuel. In fact, the company that makes alkaseltzer is so proud of the fact that it can be used in science experiments they have a whole page on their website dedicated to it. Have fun with dry ice and learn about pressure, states of matter, and film canister rockets. Make a small paper cone and tape it to the top of the rocket if you would like a nose cone. This experiment will give kids the bang they are looking for, and will give them a beginner course on chemistry and air pressure at the same time. After evenly wrapping the paper on the canister, secure it with some tape. We love homemade science experiments and stem activities anyone can try out. Make rocket body take the top off of a plastic film canister and wrap a sheet of construction paper around it. Elementary middle school kps22 the rocket film canister can be loaded with baking soda and vinegar or alkaseltzer tablets and water to investigate movement. Learn how to make a film canister rocket that launches several feet into the air. Use the spoon to pack the bicarbonate soda paste onto the underside of the film canister lid.
The perfect stem activity for an outdoor dry ice project, a science fair project, or a st. First of all, we all know that the most common effervescing tablet used in a film canister rocket is alkaseltzer. Get to know the science behind the film canister rocket experiment by learning about the secret ingredient. Science sparks is a huge resource of free, fun, inspiring and creative science experiments for kids of all ages. Film canister or effervescent vitamin tablet container. If you try some of these experiments or others with the film canister rocket. You create a science fair project by identifying and testing variables. How to make a simple rocket with film canisters science. This is a highly popular and fun activity at any age level with lots of room for experimentation. Determine the correct ratio of baking soda to vinegar that will result in the highest launch of a plastic film canister.
An antacid tablet and water are put into each canister, reacting to form carbon dioxide gas, and acting as the pop rockets propellant. The other bonus is that the lid tends to be tighter, thereby the rocket flies higher. Rocket science how to make a film canister rocket science sparks how to make a film canister rocket. Alkaseltzer rocket race chemistry science fair project experiments, chemistry models, exhibition ideas, expo topics for kids and also organics chemistry science ideas for cbse, icse, middleschool, elementary school for 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and high school students. Dry ice rocket thrilling science experiment for kids. Easy science experiments, videos, and science fair ideas. Point the open end of the tube away from yourself and others and wait for the pop. Pop your top film canister explosions experiments steve. Not to rain on the alkaseltzer science parade but, just. The carbon dioxide starts to build up, which increases the pressure inside the film canister, until eventually the cap is forced off and the rocket blasts up. A 4th of july chemistry challenge from science buddies. Place one of the pieces of alka seltzer tablet in the film canister and quickly snap the lid on the container.
Explore the science behind film canister rockets and finally we link it to how real. All you need is an old film canister and an effervescent vitamin tablet or some baking soda and vinegar. Launching homemade baking soda rockets stem activity. The third best nose cone was the hemisphere with an average of 3. When you add the water it starts to dissolve the alkaseltzer tablet. Rocket science how to make a film canister rocket science. Dry ice rocket thrilling science experiment for kids the. The rocket film canister can be loaded with baking soda and vinegar or alkaseltzer tablets and water to investigate motion.
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