| We have all been amused by the way an inflated | | | | sidewalk. What happens? The canister is thrown up |
| balloon behaves when left loose without tying the | | | | into the air just the way a rocket is launched. |
| mouth. This dynamic action has some principles behind | | | | When the effervescent tablet reacts with water, it |
| it and Isaac Newton, an English scientist, explained why | | | | releases carbon dioxide gas. This gas builds up in the |
| this happens centuries ago. He said that for every | | | | canister and ultimately sets off a mini-blast. The gas |
| action there is a reaction with equal force in the | | | | applies downward force on the lid. As a result, an |
| opposite direction. This law of Newton came to be | | | | equal force acts on the canister in the opposite |
| known as his Third Law of Motion and may or may | | | | direction, launching it. Repeat with two tablets and see |
| not be found in homeschool programs such as the | | | | what happens. |
| Apologia science curriculum. However, I love to make | | | | Please take help from adults while performing this |
| this principle come alive in your homes by teaching you | | | | experiment. Also wear protective eyewear. What |
| some cool rocket experiments. | | | | does this experiment tell you about the amount of fuel |
| When we blow air into a balloon, we apply a force on | | | | it takes to launch a rocket? What do you learn about |
| the rubber wall of the balloon. This wall exerts an equal | | | | the amount of force that is required to generate the |
| force back. Therefore, as soon as we release our | | | | equal and opposite launching force of the rocket? To |
| hold on the mouth of the balloon, the wall pushes the | | | | get a better idea, watch a video of a real-life rocket |
| air out. Now, as the air is pushed out of the balloon | | | | launch. |
| with force, an equal force works in the opposite | | | | If you've been looking for programs such as the |
| direction and pushes the balloon in the opposite | | | | Apologia science curriculum or others, you need look |
| direction. This is the same principle that is used to | | | | no further. You will find my experiments very easy to |
| launch rockets. | | | | perform, and the best thing is that the materials you will |
| A rocket engine burns fuel, and therefore a large | | | | require can be found around the house. Take a look at |
| amount of gases are released. The jet of gases hits | | | | another exciting experiment. |
| the ground with a great downward force. Now | | | | Paper-tube Rocket: Make a paper tube by rolling a |
| according to Newton's third law, an equal force acts | | | | strip of paper spirally on a pencil.Secure the tube with |
| on the rocket in the opposite (upward) direction. | | | | duct tape at a few places and slide out the pencil. Fold |
| Therefore a great thrust is created and the rocket is | | | | the upper end of the tube so that air does not pass |
| launched into the sky. You may have read about this in | | | | through it and secure it with duct tape to form the |
| the Apologia science curriculum or elsewhere, but I will | | | | nose. Now insert a drinking straw into this tube rocket |
| teach you to have some fun by making this happen in | | | | and blow hard to launch your rocket. |
| your home. | | | | Want some more exciting ideas? Download your free |
| Seltzer Pressure Rocket: Fill one-third of an empty | | | | "Homeschool Parent's Guide to Teaching Science", |
| film-roll canister (preferably transparent) with water. | | | | filled with great science experiments and activities at |
| Drop an effervescent tablet (such as Alka-Seltzer) in it. | | | | the link below. |
| Place the lid and invert the canister quickly on a | | | | |