by Dale Olive
Design a paper rocket propelled by Alka-Seltzer® and water to demonstrate Newton's third law of motion.
Key Words
rocketry
launch
pressure
For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.
Materials
index card (5 x 8 in.)
empty, film canister with lid that snaps inside
markers, crayons, or
colored pencils
tape
sizzors
Alka-Seltzer® tablets
water
metric tape measure or meter sticks
- 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 tube 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 ofthe 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!