Rocket School Projects

Use balloons and other simple items to make rockets for a science project.
••• balloons image by studio vision1 from Fotolia.com

Rockets are a common project for science classes, and a student has many options to choose from when it comes to this type of assignment. No matter how simple the project, however, you need to be careful when shooting off the rocket to prevent injury. Safety glasses should always be worn, and rockets should never be pointed at a person or animal. Rocket projects can be created to show their effects on water, chemical reactions and air currents.

Water Pressure Rocket

A very simple rocket to make is a water pressure rocket. With this model, a two-liter bottle is filled with water, and pressure is pumped into the bottle until it launches. The water pressure is the force that launches this type of rocket. A device, made of PVC piping, is constructed to pump pressure into the bottle. When launched, this rocket will get everyone in the surrounding area wet.

Mentos and Diet Cola Rocket

Mentos brand breath mints and diet cola make a strong chemical reaction when mixed. A two-liter bottle of diet cola and a pack of Mentos is all that is needed to construct this rocket. When the two are combined, the reaction propels the rocket into the air when the bottle is pointed downward and the cap is removed. Alternatively, if the bottle is standing upright, a stream of cola will shoot up.

Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket

When vinegar is mixed with baking soda, the two display a chemical reaction because acids (vinegar) react to bases (baking soda). This is another simple project that involves putting vinegar in a 20-ounce pop bottle and adding baking soda that is rolled up in a paper towel. Plug the hole with a cork (or something similar), and the resulting reaction will send the bottle flying.

Balloon Rocket

The balloon rocket is simplistic but shows how force can cause movement. This rocket involves running a string through a straw and tying each end of the string to a chair, doorknob or tree. Make sure the string is level and in a straight line between the objects without tangles. After the balloon is blown up, it is not tied off but instead taped to the straw. When the student lets the balloon go, spectators can watch as the force from the air sends the balloon to the other end of the string.

Related Articles

Jet Propulsion Science Projects
How to Make a Rocket Car With Baking Soda & Vinegar
How to Mix Vinegar & Baking Soda in a Bottle Rocket
Junior Science Fair Projects on Releasing Carbon Dioxide...
Types of Newton Scooters
How Does Thrust Affect Aerodynamics?
Science Project on Gravity and Motion for Third Graders
Fun Exploding Science Experiments
Fun Science Experiments for Teens
How Do the Laws of Motion Apply to Basketball?
Seat Belts & Newton's Second Law of Motion
Science Projects on Newton's Second Law of Motion
How to Make a Working Heart Model
Why Do Balloons Inflate When on a Bottle of Hot Water?
Using Newton's Third Law to Explain How a Rocket Accelerates
Science Projects With Straws
Baking Powder Science Projects
How to Make a Homemade Submarine for Science Class
How to Make a Hard Boiled Egg Go Into a Coke Bottle
A List of Discrepant Event Science Activities