3-2-1 Pop

3 - 2 - 1 POP!

Science Process Skills

observing

comparing

inferring

Math Skills

problem solving

connections

reasoning

Materials

effervescent antacid tablets

construction paper

plastic 35 mm film canister

cellophane tape

scissors

water

Doing the Activity

Wrap and tape a tube of paper around the film canister. The lid end of the canister goes down!

Cut out and tape fins to your rocket.

Roll a cone of paper and tape it to the rocket's upper end.

Turn the rocket upside down and fill the canister one-third full of water.

Break an antacid tablet in half.

Tape 1/2 tablet on the INSIDE of the canister lid.

Snap the lid on tight.

Quickly stand rocket on launch platform.

Stand back - Countdown 3-2-1 LIFTOFF!

Reflecting

What happened when you added water to the tablet?

What do you think gives the tablet it's fizz?

How does the amount of water or tablets affect how high the rocket will fly?

How does the length or empty weight of the rocket affect how high the rocket will fly?

Challenge (Generalizing)

Try to make your rocket go higher

What three things could you change to make your rocket better?

More Challenges

Design an experiemnt to find out how water temperature affe ts the tablets.

How would it be possible to create a two-stage rocket?

Hold an altitude contest see which rockets fly the highest.

Internet Sites for students

National Air and Space Museum http://www.nasm.edu/

Path to Mars
http://school.discovery.com/fall98/programs/thepathtomars/destinationmars/index.html

Internet Sites for leaders

Activity Plans for Space Science and Math
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/subjects/spacescience.html

What's Happening

A chemical reaction occurs when the sodium bicarbonate of the tablet mixes with water. The reaction releases carbon dioxide which can be seen as bubbles in the water.

This activity is a simple demonstration of Newton's Laws of Motion. The rocket lifts off because it is acted upon by an unbalanced force (First Law). This is the force produced when the lid blows off by the gas formed in the in the canister. The rocket travels upward with a force that is equal and opposite to the downward force propelling the water, gas, and lid (Third Law). The amount of force is directly proportional to the mass of water and gas expelled from the canister and how fast it accelerates (Second Law).

Activity Source

Rockets: A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, TX, 1996. Publication #EG-108.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

E-SET ISU Extension Extension Sites Search
Contact information: Vicki Speake speake@iastate.edu
Updated: August, 2001
NNST CYFERNet

	3 - 2 - 1 POP!
	Science Process Skills observing comparing inferring	Math Skills problem solving connections reasoning
	Materials effervescent antacid tablets construction paper plastic 35 mm film canister cellophane tape scissors water
	Doing the Activity Wrap and tape a tube of paper around the film canister. The lid end of the canister goes down! Cut out and tape fins to your rocket. Roll a cone of paper and tape it to the rocket's upper end. Turn the rocket upside down and fill the canister one-third full of water. Break an antacid tablet in half. Tape 1/2 tablet on the INSIDE of the canister lid. Snap the lid on tight. Quickly stand rocket on launch platform. Stand back - Countdown 3-2-1 LIFTOFF!
	Reflecting What happened when you added water to the tablet? What do you think gives the tablet it's fizz? How does the amount of water or tablets affect how high the rocket will fly? How does the length or empty weight of the rocket affect how high the rocket will fly?
	Challenge (Generalizing) Try to make your rocket go higher What three things could you change to make your rocket better?
	More Challenges Design an experiemnt to find out how water temperature affe ts the tablets. How would it be possible to create a two-stage rocket? Hold an altitude contest see which rockets fly the highest.
	Internet Sites for students National Air and Space Museum http://www.nasm.edu/ Path to Mars http://school.discovery.com/fall98/programs/thepathtomars/destinationmars/index.html Internet Sites for leaders Activity Plans for Space Science and Math http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/subjects/spacescience.html
	What's Happening A chemical reaction occurs when the sodium bicarbonate of the tablet mixes with water. The reaction releases carbon dioxide which can be seen as bubbles in the water. This activity is a simple demonstration of Newton's Laws of Motion. The rocket lifts off because it is acted upon by an unbalanced force (First Law). This is the force produced when the lid blows off by the gas formed in the in the canister. The rocket travels upward with a force that is equal and opposite to the downward force propelling the water, gas, and lid (Third Law). The amount of force is directly proportional to the mass of water and gas expelled from the canister and how fast it accelerates (Second Law).
	Activity Source Rockets: A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, TX, 1996. Publication #EG-108.