Teacher Information
3-2-1 POP!
Objective:
To demonstrate how rocket liftoff is an application of
Newton's Laws of Motion.
Description:
Students construct a rocket powered by the pressure
generated from an effervescing antacid tablet reacting with
water.
Science Standards: The most common mistakes in constructing
Physical Science - Position and motion of objects the rocket are: forgetting to tape the film
Science and Technology - Abilities of technological canister to the rocket body, failing to mount
design - Understanding about science and
the canister with the lid end down, and not
technology
extending the canister far enough from the
Process Skills:
paper tube to make snapping the lid easy.
Observing
Communicating Some students may have difficulty in forming
Making Models the cone. To make a cone, cut out a
Inferring "Pacman" shape from a circle and curl it into
a cone. See the pattern on the next page.
Management: Cones can be any size.
For best results, students should work in
pairs. It will take approximately 40 to 45
minutes to complete the activity. Make
samples of rockets in various stages of Materials and Tools:
completion available for students to study. • Heavy paper (60-110 index stock or
This will help some students visualize the construction paper)
construction steps. • Plastic 35 mm film canister*
• Student sheets
A single sheet of paper is sufficient to make a • Cellophane tape
rocket. Be sure to tell the students to plan • Scissors
how they are going to use the paper. Let the • Effervescing antacid tablet
students decide whether to cut the paper the • Paper towels
short or long direction to make the body tube • Water
of the rocket. This will lead to rockets of • Eye protection
* The film canister must have an internal-sealing
different lengths for flight comparison.
lid. See management section for more details.
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Rockets: A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology EG-108 February 1996
Film canisters are available from camera Assessment:
shops and stores where photographic Ask students to explain how Newton's Laws
processing takes place. These businesses of Motion apply to this rocket. Compare the
recycle the canisters and are often willing to rockets for skill in construction. Rockets that
donate them for educational use. Be sure to use excessive paper and tape are likely to be
obtain canisters with the internal sealing lid. less efficient fliers because they carry
These are usually translucent canisters. additional weight.
Canisters with the external lid (lid that wraps
around the canister rim) will not work. These
Extensions:
are usually opaque canisters.
• Hold an altitude contest to see which rock-
ets fly the highest. Launch the rockets
Background Information: near a wall in a room with a high ceiling.
This activity is a simple but exciting demon- Tape a tape measure to the wall. Stand
stration of Newton's Laws of Motion. The back and observe how high the rockets
rocket lifts off because it is acted upon by an travel upward along the wall. Let all stu-
unbalanced force (First Law). This is the dents take turns measuring rocket altitudes
force produced when the lid blows off by the • What geometric shapes are present in a
gas formed in the canister. The rocket trav- rocket?
els upward with a force that is equal and • Use the discussion questions to design
opposite to the downward force propelling the experiments with the rockets. Graph your
water, gas, and lid (Third Law). The amount results.
of force is directly proportional to the mass of
water and gas expelled from the canister and
how fast it accelerates (Second Law). For a
more complete discussion of Newton's Laws
of Motion, see pages 13-17 in this guide.
Procedure:
Refer to the Student Sheet.
Discussion:
• How does the amount of water placed in the
cylinder affect how high the rocket will fly?
• How does the temperature of the water
affect how high the rocket will fly?
• How does the amount of the tablet used
affect how high the rocket will fly?
• How does the length or empty weight of the
rocket affect how high the rocket will fly?
• How would it be possible to create a two-
stage rocket?
44
Rockets: A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology EG-108 February 1996
3-2-1 POP! 5
1
2
Ready for
flight
3
4
Wrap and tape
a tube of
paper around Lid
the film
canister. The
lid end of the
canister goes
down!
Tape fins to
your rocket.
Roll a cone of paper and
Cone Pattern tape it to the rocket's
upper end.
Tape
O
ve
rla
p
th
s i
ed
Cones can be
ge
to
any size!
fo
rm
co
ne
45
Rockets: A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology EG-108 February 1996
ROCKETEER NAMES
COUNTDOWN:
1. Put on your eye protection.
2. Turn the rocket upside down
and fill the canister one-third
full of water.
Work quickly on the next steps!
3. Drop in 1/2 tablet.
4. Snap lid on tight.
5. Stand rocket on launch
platform.
6. Stand back.
LIFTOFF!
What three ways can you improve
your rocket?
1.
2.
3.
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Rockets: A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology EG-108 February 1996
