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How to Launch a CO2 Rocket

A simple model rocket can be used to teach children about Isaac Newton's third law of motion, which states for every action there is an equal, opposite reaction. When gas pressure inside a container is greater than the ability of the container to hold it, the pressure of the gas will push the lid in one direction and the container in the opposite direction. A CO2 rocket uses gas pressure inside a container to propel the rocket upward. Alka-Seltzer and water can be used to create CO2 and launch a home-made rocket.

Things You'll Need

  • Sheet of paper
  • Film canister with lid
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Water
  • Alka-Seltzer tablets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a strip 2 inches wide by 8 inches long from the narrow side of a sheet of standard letter sized paper. Cut the strip in half. Roll one half of the strip into a cone to fit the bottom diameter of a 33-millimeter film canister to form the nose of the rocket.

    • 2

      Secure the nose cone to the bottom of a film canister with tape. Cut another strip of paper 8 1/2 inches long by 1/2 inch wide to form the fins to stabilize the rocket. Tape the ends of the strip together to form a circle. Fold 1/4 inch of paper every 2 inches along the strip to form three fins an equal distance around the circle.

    • 3

      Tape the fins and slide the circle over the film canister. Turn the canister rocket over so that the open end of the canister is facing upward. Fill the canister with water until it is 1/3 full.

    • 4

      Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into four pieces. Place 1/4 of the tablet in the water and immediately replace the lid. Set the rocket, lid side down, on a flat area and wait for the pressure to build inside the canister.


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