rocket science

Today at The Garage Creative we experimented with Rocket Science. I have taught these engaging, fun, rockets many many times and they have never failed to leave the kids and adults wanting more. Below are the easy directions to build them so you can be a Rocket Scientist!

Our group of Rocket Scientists!

Rocket #1: Stomp Rockets

To build these collect the following items:

• Empty litter soda bottle or plastic milk jug, or empty mouthwash container (basically anything that holds a lot of air that can be stomped out quickly)
• Plastic flexible tubing (I used about a foot and half per stomp rocket)
• Toilet paper tubes
• Construction paper
• Duct Tape
• Crepe paper
• Double sided tape or hot glue (optional)
• Markers for decoration (optional)

Once you have the supplies there are two steps, first you need to make the "stomp" part. To do this, I duct tape the flexible tubing into the empty bottle making sure there is no possible way for air to escape (this will hinder the rockets ability to soar).

Now that you have the propulsion part, build the rocket! I like to give the kids different options to do this. They can use toilet paper tubes or build their own out of construction paper by rolling it into a tight fuselage.

Busy building

Putting the stomp in stomp rocket!

Whichever method is chosen (perhaps both) make sure there is no air escaping out of the nose cone and not to much is coming back out of the bottom.

I have found students like to add fins and streamers and to color their fuselage. Finally place the rocket at the end of the plastic tubing (not too far down) and stomp on the bottle!

Rocket #2: Bottle Rockets

• Empty 20 oz water, soda, barbecue sauce, salad dressing bottle, ..........
• Two different sizes of straws (one needs to slide over the other)
• Duct tape, clay, play doh, model magic......something to make a seal between the straw and bottle
• Any other item to add fins and nose cones (construction paper, notecards, cardboard)
• Super sweet safety glasses to prevent a rocket in the eye

The premise behind these is very similar to the stomp rockets but I have found they go farther and fly faster! Put the smaller straw in the empty bottle and somehow seal it so air does not escape. I like using model magic because it hardens. Sometimes when it hardens, it cracks so I will duct tape the outer layer. Slide the other straw on after you have fitted it with a nose cone and squeeze the bottle, not aiming it at someone!

Adding fins

Sliding the rocket into place

Rocket #3: Alka Seltzer Rockets

All of the rockets we built today were fun but for some reason, this type of rocket is always voted as the best. To build this correctly it is imperative to have the correct type of film canister (see picture). If you do not, the seal will not be tight enough and the pressure will not build up.

• Film canisters (can be found on eBay)
  
• Alka seltzer (can be generic)
• Water
• Super sweet safety goggles

The beauty of these rockets is the simplicity. All you need is the canister, water, and Alka seltzer. How much water and Alka seltzer used determines how fast the reaction will take place. If there is too much water or Alka seltzer the reaction will go too fast and you will not get the best results.

I have found the best result is to fill the canister about half full with water and put in a 1/4 of the Alka seltzer, turn in upside down and step back. To take this further, I like to add a second film canister and make a two stage rocket!

Adding extras

Launch pads

I hope you get a chance to do this, please let me know if you do and have fun!

Take off!

The Garage Creative
thegaragecreative@gmail.com