The activity I choose to do in the classroom is Fizzing and Foaming-make a rocket ( Esero)
Experimenting-Materials needed
Film canister (no hole), any tablet that dissolves and fizzes e.g.
Alka-Seltzer, Vitamin C tablets, blu-tack, water
Information
When water is added to the tablet the gas carbon dioxide is released. The pressure of INFORMATION the carbon dioxide gas builds up inside the canister until it becomes so great that it blows the canister from its lid. The gas rushing out of the end of the canister pushes it in the opposite direction. The ‘rocket’ can shoot up to 5 metres into the air.
Use Trigger questions at start of lesson
What is a rocket? A cylinder full of materials which can produce gases.
What are rockets used for? Signalling; sending space machines with great
force into the air to get outside earth’s gravity
What gives a rocket its energy to ‘blast off’? A jet of gases released from the
back of the rocket sends it forwards.
The children can blow up a balloon and let it go. Ask them which direction the
released air goes and which direction the balloon goes.
They go in opposite directions.
Experiment- Activity
Attach the tablet (one-quarter to one-half tablet) to the inside
of the lid of the film canister.
Put water into the canister until it is about one-quarter full.
Put the lid (+ tablet) on the canister and turn it upside down.
Wait!
(The canister comes away from the lid with some force).
Follow up Activity
Vary the temperature of the water and note if there is any
difference in the height to which the ‘rocket’ shoots.
Vary the ‘fuel’ mixture used in the ‘rocket’ (e.g. Vitamin C
tablet and vinegar, and see if there is any difference in how
the ‘rocket’ behaves). Be aware, vinegar leaves quite an odour!
A launch pad can be made using a cardboard tube (e.g. a toilet
roll) and a paper plate. Cut three slits about 2.5 cm high in the
bottom of a tube. Bend the cardboard strips so that they can
be taped to a paper plate. Place the launch pad paper plate
down and the film canister on top of the tube.
Watch what happens.
Curriculum Links
English:
Rockets and space can be used as a theme for different styles of
writing about space
Geography
Art