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 Build a film canister rocket!

You can print these instructions out by choosing "PRINT" from your browser.

Build and launch a rocket that goes 10 feet in the air!

You will need:
  • One 35mm plastic film canister (the container most 35mm film comes in)
  • The lid that come with the 35mm film canister
  • One antacid tablet (such as Alka-Seltzer - Get this from your parents)
  • water
What to do:

    1. Go outside.

    2. Remove the lid from the film canister and put one antacid tablet in the container.

    3. Add a teaspoon of water to the container.

    3. Do the next 2 steps quickly - put the cap on and make sure that is on tightly

    4. Quickly put the canister on the ground CAP SIDE DOWN and STEP BACK at least 2 meters.

    5. About 10 seconds later, you will hear a POP! and the film canister will launch into the air!

    6. If it does not launch, wait at least 30 second before examining the canister. Usually the cap is not on tight enough.

    TIP - The white plastic film canisters usually work better than the black canisters with the gray tops.

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
When you add the water it starts to dissolve the alkaseltzer tablet. This creates a gas call carbon dioxide. It also creates pressure inside the film canister. As more gas is made, more pressure builds up until the cap it blasted down and the rocket is blasted up. This sytem of thrust is how a real rocket works whether it is in outer space or here in the earth's atmosphere. You can improve the rocket by adding fins and a nose cone that you can make out of paper. If you like this experiment, try the Exploding Lunch Bag. Be safe and have fun!

Science Bob

The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

1. Does water temperature affect how fast the rocket launches?

2. Does water temperature affect how far the rocket launches?

3. Does the size of the tablet affect how high the rocket travels?

4. Can the flight be controlled by adding fins/a nosecone?

5. What combination of water and tablet size creates the highest launch?

See if you can come up with more FILM ROCKET experiments!