True Rocket Science - A Children's Experiment

Hinweis: Du findest die deutsche Version dieses Postings in meinem deutschen Blog.

Today we got a call from my wife's parents. They found a guide how to craft a a small rocket. It was that simple that it could be transmitted via a simple phone call. You need:

• a small film container (color negative), the lid will be the underside
• three small fins for stabilization made of thin cardboard
• a missile nosecone, also made of thin cardboard
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons vinegar
• glue (I used a glue stick ... that was enough)

Structure

First, I made a small strip at half height of the film container. I placed and glued this around the rocket, so that it was easy to fix the fins afterwards. When tinkering, It is important that the lid of the film container was closed to fix the fins at the correct height.

Then I had to cut the fins: small triangles with adhesive flaps at the end... equal in height as the previous strip. Recommendation: Cut the previous strip a little longer than needed and then cut the fins from the rest. Fix these fins with the glue to the strip which is already around the rocket's body.

Then the missile nosecone: Cut out a circle (use a cup to draw it) and once cut it toward the middle. Then shape and glue the cone. I made it a little wider than the film container. The remaining width I cut in several times to have small flaps which I bent and glued to the film container.

The experiment

In the garden, I ensured to have a flat surface on the lawn using a flower plate. Then I poured the baking powder into the rocket. And now I needed three hands. Fortunately, I had the best wife of all to the side, which assisted: She poured three teaspoons full of vinegar (pre-filled in a cup!) into the rocket body. Do not be irritated by the powerful foaming - simple fasten the lid fast, shake the film container and quickly place the rocket to the ground. Seek some safe place.

Even if it started to foam immediately: It still took a few seconds... but then the rocket shot up into an impressive height. I guess about three meters. At least so much that the video only showed the launch of the rocket.

Have fun crafting! You can reuse the rocket some times.