DIY Rockets!!

With the space study this week, we did a few rocket experiments, that I wanted to share with you. 

ROCKET #1

What you need:
film canister
alka seltzer
water

Some of them worked well, some didn’t…but the ones that exploded went up high, make sure you are standing back, and give it plenty of time, b/c just when you think it’s NOT going to explode it DOES!   Protective eye wear is a good idea too, and you may want to do this outside! 

(Film canisters are hard to find nowadays, but I called around to Wal-Mart and Costco and found places that still develop film; they had a few on hand that and gave me them for FREE).

Rocket #2

We got this idea from the Discovery Fair we attended this past weekend (more on that for Field Trip Friday).  The line to this event was REALLY long, so we just scoped it out, and then bought a few things, and made it at home!  It is actually really easy and inexpensive. 

What you need:
a long piece of PVC pipe (~10ft)
one elbow joint (PVC)
a glossy magazine that is held with staples
scotch tape
this pattern for the rocket stabilizer fins (print onto cardstock, 3 fins per rocket)
Saran wrap
an empty 2L bottle
duct tape
and a hand saw (to cut the PVC pipe)

Cut 2 pipes slightly longer than the magazine double spread pages (so open magazine, and measure it’s from one side to the other across both pages). 
Cut 2 smaller pieces for legs (to stabilize it)
attach the elbow joint to one end of the longest pipe and the other end of the joint to one of the 2 pipes you cut to magazine size.  Using duct tape attach the two leg pieces to the longest length to stable it in a standing position.  At the other end of the longest piece attach the 2L bottle. 

With the magazine opened to the center page, remove the staples.  Use the 2nd pipe you cut to magazine length as a guide for rolling your rocket.  Roll it slightly looser than the pipe itself, so that it can slide on and off easily.  (You can put duct tape on one end to make the roll slightly larger…make sure that end is the BOTTOM of the rocket).  Secure it with scotch tape.  Ball up some saran wrap and tape it to one end…make sure there is no air flow through the tube by blowing into the end, add more tap to the top as needed to seal it off.  Tape the fin pieces to the other end. 

Place the rocket on the other PVC pipe that was cut to magazine size (that is now attached at the elbow to the longer PVC pipe).  Push it all the way down, and then STOMP on the 2L bottle…kids may have difficulty doing this, an older child or adult would be more successful, you have to STOMP IT HARD!  Watch as your rocket FLIES HIGH INTO THE SKY! 

Tip:  Make sure it is not rolled to tight, we had trouble getting a few of the rockets onto the launcher, so just play around with it a bit when rolling it. After stomping the 2L bottle, it can be re-inflated by blowing into the launch tube.  You’ll want to be in a wide open field for this one because they go HIGH!! 

Rocket #3

More on this one coming soon – A review AND GIVEAWAY!!  Stay tuned!

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