Activity Title: Pop Rockets
Age Group(s):
- PreSchool
- School Age
DESCRIPTION:
What Do I Need?
• Mini M& M tubes
• Antacid tablets
• Cardboard {cereal boxes work great}
• Foil
• Glue gun
• Decorations {stickers, washi tape, painters tape}
• Bottle of water
• Small ball of clay {optional}
How Do I Do It?
1. First build the rockets by emptying and peel the label off the M&M tubes. Next, cut the tab that holds the cap on the tube so the cap could be completely removed. Then use the empty cereal box and hot glue gun to make mini cones to top off the rockets.
2. Decorate the tubes with stickers of your choice!
3. Cover the cones with aluminum foil to provide them with a little more protection.
4. Next, hot glue the cones to the bottom {the side opposite the cap} of the M&M tubes
5. You are now ready to make your rockets fly!
6. Gather your rockets, the antacid tablets, and a bottle of water and head outside (This activity can get pretty messy)
7. Place a small ball of clay in the lid to hold the antacid tablet in place so that A could close the lid without starting the fizz until the rocket was flipped right side up
8. Next, pour about a teaspoon of water into the rocket and place the lid snugly on the rocket. Flip the rocket onto the wooden board and watch your rocket take flight!
What's the Science Behind It?
When water and antacid mix, carbon dioxide gas is produced. By placing the lid on the rocket, you are trapping those gas bubbles inside. As more and more bubbles are produced, the pressure inside the rocket builds, creating enough force to break the seal on the lid. There is so much force from the built up pressure that it launches the rocket into the air.
STEM Category: Engineering
Activity originally posted on PlaydoughtoPlato.com
img credit: TeachEngineering.org
