Day 2: Building Rockets!

Part I: Paper Rockets

Instructions:

1. Use a hot glue gun to attach the straw securely to the bottle cap. Ensure the straw is straight and airtight to allow maximum airflow.
2. Roll a sheet of paper into a tube slightly larger than the straw’s diameter. Tape the edge to secure it, ensuring it can slide easily onto the straw.
3. Cut a small piece of paper and shape it into a cone. Tape or glue the cone to one end of the paper tube to create the rocket’s nose.
4. Cut small triangles from colored paper to create fins. Attach them evenly around the open end of the tube using tape or glue for stability.
5. Slide the open end of the rocket onto the straw attached to the bottle cap. Ensure it fits snugly but can still slide off easily.
6. Place the bottle on the ground or a flat surface. Step on the bottle firmly to release air through the straw, launching your rocket.
7. Try adjusting the size or shape of the fins, or the length of the rocket, to see how they affect flight distance and stability.
8. Take a picture or video of your rocket launches and share your results.

Part II: Film Canister Rockets

Instructions:

1. Gather your materials: an Alka-Seltzer tablet, a film canister with a tight-fitting lid, water, tape, paper for decorations, and markers or crayons.
2. Decorate your film canister to look like a rocket. Cut and tape fins from paper to the sides and draw designs to make your rocket unique.
3. Fill the film canister about one-third full with water.
4. Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into two or three pieces.
5. Place the pieces of Alka-Seltzer into the film canister.
6. Quickly and securely snap the lid onto the canister.
7. Place the canister upside down on a flat surface and step back.
8. Wait a few seconds for the pressure to build up and launch the rocket into the air.
9. Experiment with different amounts of water or tablet sizes to see how it affects the rocket’s launch height.
10. Take a picture or video of your decorated rocket launch and share your results.

Part III: Bottle Rockets

Instructions:

1. Gather a plastic bottle (small soda bottle works well), baking soda, vinegar, three pencils, tape, and a cork or rubber stopper that fits the bottle opening snugly.
2. Tape the three pencils evenly spaced around the sides of the bottle, ensuring the erasers point downward to form a tripod stand. The bottle opening should face upwards.
3. Add a few teaspoons of baking soda into a small piece of tissue or paper towel. Fold it into a packet so it fits into the bottle opening.
4. Pour a few inches of vinegar into the bottle, ensuring it doesn’t touch the baking soda packet yet.
5. Place the bottle on a flat surface outdoors, with plenty of open space and no obstructions.
6. Quickly drop the baking soda packet into the vinegar, and immediately seal the bottle with the cork or rubber stopper.
7. Step back and observe as the reaction builds pressure, forcing the cork out and launching the rocket.
8. Experiment with the amounts of vinegar and baking soda to see how they affect the height of the rocket’s flight.
9. Always allow time between launches to clean the bottle and ensure safety.