Science Experiment: Baking Soda Rocket
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This Baking Soda Rocket has been voted one of the “Best Toys of the Year” by Family Life Magazine, Dr. Toy Awards and Parents’ Choice Recommended Award. The rocket has an unique fuel system that allows the baking soda and vinegar to mix in a closed bottle, creating an enormous power that blasts the rocket over 100 feet into the sky. Watch the video  |
Science Experiment: Baking Soda Rocket
This kit has all the supplies you need, just add baking soda, vinegar and kids! (Good for kids ages 9 years and up) Make sure that the budding scientists wear safety goggles too.
Discover Magazine says
“We scoped out countless new science-related playthings and fell in love with the Meteor Rocket.”
- Baking Soda Rocket
- Baking Soda (not included in kit)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Vinegar (not included in kit)
- Safety Goggles (not included in kit)
Science Experiment:Baking Soda Rocket
Step 1. Take supplies out of the box. Measure and cut out 3 fins out of the enclosed balsa wood. Attach the fins to the bottle using hot glue gun. Decorate the rocket with the red and silver vinyl sheets enclosed (optional). My son was too impatient to do this but the kit encloses plenty of see-through vinyl and mirror sheets to decorate and make your rocket look “cool”.
Step 2. Measure baking soda and place into the fueling tube. Set aside. Measure and pour vinegar into the rocket bottle. Add food coloring to the vinegar if you wish. This is optional as it will not alter the reaction of the rocket.
Step 3. Assemble the rocket outside. Hold bottle in horizontal position just so that the vinegar does not pour out. This step is best if you have a buddy to help. Next, position the baking soda tube horizontal and slide it gently inside the rocket. Turn the cap about 7 times to tighten. Make sure no baking soda mixes with vinegar at this point.
Step 4. Once assembled, quickly invert the rocket upside down so that the baking soda falls out of the tube into the vinegar. Then quickly position the rocket back vertical and place on the ground. The baking soda and vinegar will react and cause a quick launch within several seconds. Watch it projectile up into the air. It has the capacity to fly as high as 100 feet. Make sure you keep track where the rocket falls so you can retrieve it and do this experiment again if you wish. The baking soda meteor rocket is something kids will enjoy launching and experimenting with over and over again. Another great way to introduce the fun into science!
What just happened?
Same reaction happened here as with the volcano experiment where vinegar and baking soda was used. Except that when the vinegar (Acetic acid) and the baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate) mixes together, the carbon dioxide created does not have a place to escape since the bottle is closed off. As a result, when the pressure builds up inside the bottle, the pressure gets so great that eventually the bottle pushes the stopper out and propels forward (up into the sky) causing a magnificent rocket launch.
Take this further:
- Try different kinds of vinegar to see if that has any effect on the rocket: apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, etc.
- Vary the proportion of baking soda and vinegar and measure the different effects on heights. See if you can go for a record height.
- Experiment in different weather conditions, to see if weather affects the altitude record. Does humidity change the height? Does temperature?
Other Science Party Related:
- Science Supplies and Science Party Supplies
- Science Party Ideas: Wacky Mad Science Fun
- Science Experiment: Volcanoes for Kids
- Science Experiment: Homemade Play Dough
- Science Experiment: Baking Soda Rocket
- Science Experiment: Slime, Flubber or Goop
- Science Experiment: Alka Seltzer Grenades
- Science Experiment: Egg in a Bottle
- Science Party Fun: Egg Bridge
- Video: How To Make Slime
- Video: Baking Soda Rocket Experiment
