GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – This afternoon, Covey Denton is leading our ENC at Three team through some science experiments.
These are sure to get your kids excited about the Artemis II launch and Project Hail Mary heading to theaters.
Joins us at 3 p.m. on WITN as Covey demonstrates these experiments.
You can use items you likely have around your house to conduct them.
Let’s start with Alka-Seltzer Rockets.
What you need: Alka-Seltzer tablets, water, container with a pop-on lid (film canister, M&M minis container, prescription bottle, and food storage containers all work well). Optional, colored paper for the nose cone and fins.
It’s very important that you do not use a screw lid because the pressure can build up in the container, and the lid won’t pop off.
As the Alka-Seltzer reacts with the liquid, CO2 gas is formed. HCO3– (aq) + H+ (aq) → H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
This is an example of a chemical reaction. The tablets contain sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and citric acid. When the tablet is dissolved in water, bicarbonate (HCO3–) and hydrogen ions (H+) are formed. Once in solution, the two chemicals can then react.
For the reaction to occur, the HCO3– and H+ must collide at the right angle with the right amount of energy. The chances of this happening are better when the tablet is crushed into more pieces, giving more opportunities for them to dissolve then collide.
The reaction will also be quicker when the temperature is higher, since the molecules are moving faster.
In our experiment, we are trapping that released gas in the non-stretchy container. The pressure will build up and eventually pop off the top. When you put the film canister upside down, the force of the pop is enough to lift the canister up in the air.
To make it a fun rocket, add fins and a nose cone.
To make the pops happen more slowly (something you may wish to do with younger kids who aren’t as adept at sealing the canisters) use very cold water and a smaller piece of the Alka-Seltzer table. To make them launch quickly, warmer water and a larger piece of the tablet will work well.
Now, let’s try some Balloon Launchers.
What you need: Balloon, tape, straw, card-stock rocket, and string.
Set up your launch zone by threading a straw with some string and pulling the string taught. You will tape the inflated balloon to the straw and the string will determine its launch.
Blow up the balloon, tape on your rocket with the tail end facing the balloon opening, then tape the balloon to the straw. Give the countdown and…. blast off!
Both of these experiments are great ways of exploring Newton’s Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
For the film canister, the lid goes one way, and the film canister shoots out of the tube in the opposite direction.
For the balloon, the air leaving the balloon provides thrust, moving the rocket in the opposite direction.
The recent rocket launch used thrust to propel the rocket off of the launch pad, against gravity, to get it into space.
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