As part of our classroom topic ‘Space and Beyond!’ we conducted an experiment using rockets. The boys prepared their bottle rockets at home using a few objects, and we launched the rockets outside on the lawn. The boys needed baking soda and vinegar for the reaction to occur. They observed that baking soda and vinegar react to neutralize each other, which releases carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas built up inside the plastic bottle. When the pressure of the gas in the bottle is high enough, the cork was forced out of the bottle. The downward force of the cork being forced out of the bottle creates an upward thrust force which makes the bottle shoot up into the air. This is an example of Newton’s Third Law.For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.As with any experiment we had some failures, but the boys learned what makes the perfect rocket launch after a few attempts. They absolutely loved seeing the rockets fly!
