All
of the experiments must be done in the presence
of a parent or teacher.
Experiment
8: Alka Rockets
Ideas | Key Words | Materials | Procedure | Observations | Analysis | Questions | Teacher
Page
| Ideas |
|---|
|
To design a paper rocket propelled
by Alka-Seltzer and water to demonstrate
Newton's third law of motion.
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| Key Words |
|---|
- Rocketry
- Launch
- Pressure
- For every action there is an opposite
and equal reaction.
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| Materials |
|---|
|
Note: All experiments should be
done using original formula effervescent
Alka-Seltzer.
- Index Card (5x8 in.)
- Empty, film canister with lid
that snaps inside
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Tape
- Scissors
- Alka-Seltzer tablets
- Water
- Metric tape measure or meter sticks
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| Procedure |
|---|
|
1. Decorate the index card. This will form
the body of your rocket.
2. Roll the index card into an 8-inch-tall tube.
Slide an empty, film canister into the tube so
that the canister opens at one end of the tube.
Securely tape the paper to the canister. You do
not want these two parts to separate.
3. Now tape the 8-inch-long seam of the paper
tube.
4. Cut two triangular, paper fins and tape them
onto the rocket.
5. What is the function of the rocket fins?
6. Make a small paper cone and tape it to the
top of the rocket if you would like a nose cone.
7. What is the function of the nose cone?
8. Hold the rocket upside down and add water
to the canister to one-quarter full.
9. Add half a tablet of Alka-Seltzer to the film
canister and quickly snap on the lid.
10. Place the rocket on the ground, lid down.
Stand back and count down while you are waiting
for launch.
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| Observations |
|---|
|
1. How high did the rocket go?
2. What happened when the Alka-Seltzer was added
to the water?
3. What action happened inside the film canister?
4. What was the reaction of the rocket?
5. Experiment using different amounts of water
or Alka-Seltzer to see how it affects the height
of the rocket.
6. Experiment to see how the weight of the rocket
affects the height it travels keeping the amount
of water and Alka-Seltzer constant each time.
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| Analysis |
|---|
|
What is the best combination of Alka-Seltzer
and water to produce the maximum launch height?
What is your evidence?
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| Questions |
|---|
|
1. Design and launch a rocket powered by two,
three or more film canisters.
2. Design and launch a rocket that launches in
two stages.
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