Learn about what it takes to get a rocket off the ground with this fun and easy experiment.
Now roll up your sleeves and become a rocket scientist!
Have you ever heard of the four forces of flight? Thrust is one of these four forces, and it causes an object to move forward. For example, in a plane, the engine creates thrust and propels the plane forward. In a rocket, the engine creates thrust and causes the rocket to move upwards. Let’s try an experiment that demonstrates how this works!
Materials:
Hammer, vinegar, empty bottle, baking soda, nail, paper towel, container
Time Estimated:
15-20 minutes
Directions:
Take the plastic cap of your empty bottle and hammer the nail into the cap, creating a hole. (Get help from a parent or guardian for this step!)
Fill your container with water.
Take the vinegar and pour it into the empty bottle.
Next, fill the cap of the empty bottle with baking soda.
Screw the cap with baking soda onto the bottle quickly! Make sure it is very tight on the bottle.
Then, put the bottle in the container filled with water. Watch how the baking soda and vinegar mixture creates a motor for the bottle.
Think Like A Scientist:
What did you observe about the bottle in the container filled with water?
Did your bottle move around the container? If so, why?
If your bottle moved, what propelled the bottle to do so?
How It Works:
As you may have observed, the baking soda and vinegar mixture should have created enough thrust to move the bottle around your container. So, how does this work? The chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar releases carbon dioxide gas, which creates pressure in the bottle. The only way for the pressure to escape is through the hole in the bottle cap. In order to distribute pressure, the mixture came out of the hole, which created thrust, and propelled it to move around the water!
If you enjoyed this experiment, be sure to check out the other science activities and videos on the Boundless Brilliance YouTube channel!
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
