If you'd like, decorate your canisters with permanent markers. (The designs will scratch off, so it's only a temporary happy.) The girls & I also hot glued sequins & gems onto our rockets, & wrapped glittery papers around them.
To make the pointy rocket top (or a "Chinese hat" as Pazely calls it) just cut out a 2" circle. I used my punch. Cut a slit halfway through, to the center. Then twist the paper so it forms the point. Glue to hold in place & then glue your "hat" to the bottom of the film canister.
Zoey says you should put a much smaller piece of the Alka-Seltzer tablet in the lid of your rocket than I did.
The next step goes kind of fast. After you put your little piece of Alka-Seltzer in the lid, put about 1/4 inch of water in the bottom part. Snap it together quick, shake it, set it down, & get back!
Depending on how much water vs. Alka-Seltzer you have, your rocket will eventually POP, flying into the air. (Remember to set it down with the lid on the bottom.)
You can experiment with different levels of water & amounts of Alka-Seltzer.
We even tried this experiment with those plastic capsules you get from the gumball machines. It worked for the little one, but the large one just kept foaming because the seal wasn't as tight.
We also found that the Fuji film canister worked better than the Kodak ones. (Again, tighter seal.)
It's all scientific, you know.
Once the Alka-Seltzer hits the water, carbon dioxide is released. The gases build up in that tiny space & the pressure becomes too great, so eventually the container BURSTS open!
There's lots of information on the web with proper terminology & explanations.
So feel free to Google.
We definitely plan on making these rockets again to amaze all our friends.
(Don't forget to grab a 2012 Summer Diary blog button on the sidebar & follow along!)
P.S. Click HERE to read a narrative about how I acquired the film canisters.
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Those came out super cute. I am glad you all survived the haunted darkroom.
ReplyDeleteAlthough in my world, all dark rooms are haunted...