Practical 2

Rocket Practical

In this practical exercise you will make a rocket! Not only that, you will provide the rocket with fuel and observe lift-off! This type of rocket was first made by the Chinese around a thousand years ago.

What will you need? (Apparatus):

• empty film canister or similar.
• tablet or spoonful of sodium bicarbonate (sodium hydrogen carbonate).
• Water, and pipette to measure volume.
• Eye goggles.

Safety:

These safety points mainly tell you about hazard. You will need to think about the risk(s) this might pose, and how you can minimize the risk.

• Make sure you wear your eye goggles at all times.
• Once you have carried out the method (below) you should stand well back.
• Make sure to follow the guidance from your teacher.

What do you need to do? (Method):

1. Place the sodium bicarbonate in the film canister.
2. Use a pipette to add approximately 1cm³ of water.
3. As quickly as you can, fit the lid on the canister, making sure the seal is tight.
4. Turn the canister upside-down and place it on a flat surface. Stand back!

What will you see? (Results/Observations):

Note down what you see.

What happened, and why? (Conclusion):

Can you work out what happened?

You might need to look up what happens when water reacts with sodium bicarbonate