Simple Rockets

Rockets have been around for centuries. The Chinese were making them as far back as the 12th Century.
Before you make your rocket, let's test what a film canister, water and a tablet can achieve.
This type of rocket depends on two different chemicals reacting together where one of the products is a gas - an increase in pressure will be achieved. Safety Glasses are required when doing this practical.

1. To gain an idea what can happen, watch the video from physics.org - click her to view.
   
   
2. Making your Rocket
   • For a template to make your paper outer rocket with click here.
   • Or for a more comprehensive explanation and choice of 4 styles - visit Tony Alfrey's webpage.
   • Create your rocket using stiff paper as shown in the diagrams
   • For our rocket we follow the quantity of water recommended in physics.org - about 10mm.
   • Place tissue paper over the mouth of the canister making a hollow in the centre but not letting it get wet.
   • Keeping your rocket upside down, place a tablet in the hollow and put the cover on the canister.
   • When you are outside and ready to activate your rocket, turn your rocket up the right way and place it on the ground. Step back and watch.
     
     
3. Things to think about
4. The pressure the tablet and water create inside the canister will force the rocket upwards.
5. The height the rocket reaches will depend on:
   • How much water you use
   • How hot the water is
   • Whether you used the tablet hole or broken into two or three smaller pieces - the smaller pieces will allow the water to react with the tablet's surface area at a faster rate creating more gas in a given time.
   • How heavy the paper is you made the rocket out of.
     
     
6. Other Things you Could Try
7. In place of a Alka Seltzer tablet you could try a teaspoon of Carb Soda or other brands of dental tablets
8. Vary the amount of tablet or Carb Soda
9. Vary the temperature or amount of water