K - 2nd Session 5: Using solid and liquid chemicals to launch rockets!

This week our budding chemists got to build their own rockets and were able to launch a few up in the sky!

Be began by refreshing the mind on the differences between a solid and a liquid.  We used water as the example of a liquid and a piece of cardboard as the example of a solid.  How do we know that water is a liquid?  How do we know that cardboard is a solid?  Once we were reminded of these differences we discussed the solid and the liquid that were going to be used to create a reaction.  The word reaction was studied and discussed as well, what does it mean?  For our young scientists the word reaction was defined as when something mixes with something else and causes something to happen : ) .  The liquid used was white vinegar, the solid used as baking soda.  Together, when mixed the "reaction" is what would shoot the rockets up!

The kids then constructed their rockets, once finished we went outside to do some trials and see if they could be launched.  Due to the 'explosive' nature of the reaction everyone was required to wear goggles and the young chemists did not handle the chemicals directly.

The lessons learned?

• We learned what a reaction is.
• We learned that a reaction using baking soda (solid) and vinegar (liquid) happens VERY quickly!
• We learned that the weight (how 'heavy') the rocket is determines if it will launch or not, so we either need to add more parts to the reaction chemicals or make the rocket smaller.
• Finally, we learned that in real life, in order for NASA to launch a space shuttle out into space it takes an incredible amount of rocket 'power'!  (To further study this concept with your young chemist visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/rocketry/home/what-is-a-rocket-58.html#.U3UDmvldWTk)