Rocket Science (Reactive Rockets)

Materials

• 1-Film Canister
• 2- Antacid Tablet
• Warm water

Procedure

• Fill the canister with 1 tsp of warm water
• Drop ½ of an antacid tablet into the canister
• Quickly snap the lid onto the canister
• Flip over and place the lid on the ground
• Stand back and wait for the reaction

For Further Exploration with Antacid Tablets

• Try different amounts of water. Does the rocket shoot
  higher with more water or less water?
• Try different temperatures of water. Does warm or
  cold water affect the shoot of your rocket?

• Can you think of other things that would produce carbon dioxide gas within your film canister?

The Science Behind It

When the antacid tablet comes in contact with water, it begins to fizz. This reaction creates carbon dioxide gas inside of the canister. Pressure from the gas builds up, and the lid eventually pops off. The push of the rocket is directly related to how much pressure builds up inside of the film canister.