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Abstract Watching a space shuttle or a rocket launch is an amazing experience. It is thrilling to see the rocket lift off and escape Earth's gravity. Did you know that it takes a chemical reaction to get a rocket into space? Every time you see a rocket blast off, you are watching chemistry at work. In this chemistry science fair project, you'll also get to blast an object into the air. You won't be using the same fuel that NASA uses for their rockets; instead, you will use two simple ingredientsbaking soda and vinegar. The interesting part will be to figure out how much you need of each one. If you are interested in becoming a rocket scientist in the future, you should definitely try this science fair project. Objective To determine the correct ratio of baking soda to vinegar that will result in the highest launch of a plastic canister. Introduction Have you ever watched a space shuttle launch on television or seen one live? One question that may have crossed your mind when watching this awesome spectacle is, "How does a space shuttle lift off and get into space?" The simple answer to this question is that the space shuttle has engines that lift it into space. But all of that fire and smoke is not an explosion. All rockets depend on combustion to provide the thrust that is required for a vessel to overcome the force of gravity and climb into space. The space shuttle is made up of the orbiter (which holds the astronauts and different kinds of payload), the dark orange-colored external fuel tank, and two solid rocket boosters. At launch, the two solid rocket boosters, along with three space shuttle main engines, power the liftoff. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't take an explosion to get a rocket ship off of the earth. Rocket engines function on the principle of combustion. Combustion is a chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidant where the fuel is burned or oxidized. An oxidant or oxidizer is a chemical that causes another chemical to burn. In the solid rocket boosters, the fuel is aluminum and the oxidant is ammonium perchlorate. The three space shuttle main engines use liquid hydrogen as the fuel and liquid oxygen as the oxidant. Combustion produces great amounts of exhaust gas at high temperatures and pressure. The hot gases are pushed out from the bottom of the rocket and thus, the rocket is thrust upward. This is an example of Isaac Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The gases exiting from the rocket have a downward force that is equal and opposite to the force with which the rocket moves up.
Mixing the fuel and oxidant together correctly is complicated and something that real rocket scientists work hard to perfect. In this chemistry science fair project, you will become a rocket scientist, but instead of using dangerous chemicals, you will use a chemical reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid). This reaction produces water and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is what makes soda fizzy and bubbly, which is why you see lots of bubbling and foaming when you mix baking soda and vinegar together. You will mix baking soda and vinegar in a capped film canister and take advantage of the pressure the carbon dioxide gas creates in the canister to launch your own small-scale rocket, experimenting with how different amounts of baking soda and vinegar affect the launch height. You might not be launching the space shuttle, but you will still have messy fun escaping the force of gravity for a few seconds with your own rocket! Terms, Concepts, and Questions to Start Background Research
Combustion Thrust Gravity Chemical reaction Fuel Oxidation Exhaust Pressure Newton's third law of motion Ion
Questions
What is a chemical reaction? What is combustion? Can you describe Newton's third law of motion and come up with examples? Describe the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar
Bibliography
Wikipedia Contributors. (2009, September 1). Space Shuttle. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 3, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Space_Shuttle&oldid=311180564
The following NASA website has information on everything you have ever wanted to know about rockets.
Benson, T. (ed). (2007, October 10). NASA: Rocket Index. Retrieved September 1, 2009, from http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/shortr.html
If you would like to know more about the baking soda and vinegar reaction, take a look at this website.
Apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com. (n.d.). Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction and Demonstrations. Retrieved September 1, 2009, from http://www.apple-
National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Create a Graph. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/CreateAGraph/default.aspx
Plastic Fuji film canisters with the tops (at least 3) Construction paper, any color, 9 inches (in.) X 12 in. (1 pack) Scotch tape (1 roll) Scissors Permanent marker Ruler, in inches Optional: Ladder Baking soda (1 box) White vinegar (1/2 gallon bottle or jug) Measuring spoon, 1/8 teaspoon (tsp.) Measuring spoon, 1 tsp. Bowl Water Spoon Safety goggles Adult volunteer Lab notebook
Experimental Procedure Note: Since this science fair project can be messy, you should perform all tests outside. Your location should be along a tall wall and free from debris.
4. Create a data table in your lab notebook so that you can keep track of The data that you collect. It should look like the one shown below.
Amount of Vinegar
Trial
the ground, and quickly move away. Wait for the chemical reaction to occur (the time depends on the amount of baking soda and vinegar you are using). 4. When the lid finally pops off, the rocket should overcome gravity and launch. You and your volunteer should watch to see how high it goes and record the launch height in your lab notebook. 5. Carefully rinse out the lid and canister with water. Make sure that the construction paper doesn't get too wet. 6. Repeat steps 15 two more times, always recording the launch height in your lab notebook. It is a good idea to perform at least three trials of each experiment so that you know your results are accurate and reproducible. 7. Decrease the amount of vinegar in the canister by 1 tsp. and repeat steps 15 three times. Record all of the data in your lab notebook. 8. Once again, reduce the amount of vinegar by 1 more tsp. and repeat steps 15 three times. Always record all of the data in your lab notebook. 9. Now that you have investigated the effect of the amount of vinegar on launch height, investigate the amount of baking soda required. Reduce the amount of baking soda to tsp. and repeat steps 15 three times, with the original amount of vinegar used for your first vinegar trial. Adjust and use just enough water for the baking soda to stick to the depression in the lid. Record all of your data in your lab notebook. 10. Repeat steps 15 three times using a tsp. of baking soda, with the original amount of vinegar used for your first vinegar trial. Adjust and use just enough water for the baking soda to stick to the depression in the lid. Record all of your data in your lab notebook.
2. Plot the data. You can make your plots by hand on graph paper, or if you would like to make your plots online, try the following website: Create a Graph. Label the x-axis Amount of Vinegar and the y-axis Average Launch Height. Plot the average launch height for the varying amounts of baking soda on the same graph. You should now have a set of plots that will allow you to determine the ideal amount of baking soda and vinegar. Which variable affects the launch height the most, vinegar or baking soda? Variations
Do you think that adding a cone and fins to your rocket will help it have a greater launch height? Add a cone and see how that affects the launch height using the amount of baking soda and vinegar that previously produced the highest launch. Then design and make fins for your rocket out of construction paper and repeat the experiment using the amount of baking soda and vinegar that previously produced the highest launch. Tape the cone on the opposite end from the canister and the fins on the same end. Do the cone and fins help increase the launch height? Try using different containers instead of Fuji film canisters. For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Chemistry Project Ideas.
Credits Michelle Maranowski, PhD, Science Buddies This science fair project is based on the following: PBSKidsGo.org. (n.d.). Film Canister Rocket. Retrieved September 1 , 2009, from http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/filmcanisterrocket.html
Fuji is a registered trademark of Fuji Photo Film, Inc. Scotch is a registered trademark of 3M.