Bottle Rocket Challenge
In this activity, you will
build a bottle rocket utilizing materials in your home.
Supplies Required
- Empty plastic bottle
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- A cork (or substitute)
- Wooden sticks or pencils (for launching pad)
- Scotch tape
- Scissors
- Optional: Funnel
The Challenge
Bottle Rocket. Those two simple words can turn a boring day into one filled with, fun, excitement and learning. There is nothing more exciting than, rockets, chemistry and explosions! When we mix vinegar (HCH3COO) and baking soda (NaHCO3), we get the so-called acid-base reaction. Here vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. An acid is a chemical that wants to get rid of a positively charged hydrogen atom (proton) and a base wants that proton. In that reaction when the baking soda receives proton from the acid, it transforms into water and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide rapidly expands, and if the space is too small, it explodes. While building a rocket, our goal is to allow that pressure to release at the right time and on the right spot. That will make our rocket defy gravity and launch upwards!
Let’s Experiment and Build!
Instructions
- Make a launching pad out of wooden sticks or pencils. Tape 3 sticks so the bottle can stand on them. Tape the sticks so they are going over the bottle cap. When we put a bottle on the sticks, the bottom of the bottle will look upwards, and the bottle cap will look down.
- Check if your cork is a good fit for the bottle. If it’s not, you can use duct tape to make it fit better.
- Decorate your rocket (bottle) as you wish and you are ready to launch!
- It is best to do this in an area where there is a lot of space and make sure you stand way back. You never know how far it might launch.
- Pour vinegar (1 – 2 dL is enough)
- Using a funnel, pour baking soda in the bottle (1 – 2 spoons). Close the bottle with the cork and turn it over so it stands on the launching pad.
- If the pressure builds too fast, you can put baking soda in a piece of paper, put in the bottle, put the cork on and shake it so you start a reaction
- 3, 2, 1, Blastoff!
Think about it and Additional Resources
Think About It! What do you think would happen if we used more baking soda or vinegar? Explain your thinking! What do you think would happen if we used warm water? Why? What things could we change to make the rocket go higher?
Read and learn more about chemical reactions with the Ducksters.
Share on social media: Record a video or take a picture of your rocket
and post the results online using the hashtags:
#BottleRocketChallenge
#ProjectExploration
#StemAtHome
Tag a friend and challenge them to make their own rocket!
For more activities like this one, go to www.projectexploration.org/stemhome. If you’re interested in learning more about Project Exploration and our free events, programs, and activities, please find us on social media and be sure to follow!
Call or text us for help: 312-772-6634
In these videos, you will learn about…
- Chemical Reactions in Action
- Making Plastic Bottle Rockets
- The Sci Guys Make Water Bottle Rockets