Pop Rocket Challenge

Background: Alka-Seltzer contains citric acid and sodium bicarbonate(baking soda), as well as medicines, stuff for colds, allergies, or whatever else. In a seltzer tablet, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), a gas, is produced as a result of a chemical reaction that is able to start once the acid (citric acid) and base (sodium bicarbonate) are allowed to mix in the water. As the Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas builds up it creates enough pressure to pop the canister off its top thrusting it into the air like a rocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMA0A6vXiqU

The Scientific Method

The Goal Your mission is design an experiment that helps answer the following question? What are the conditions to achieve maximum thrust in a film canister rocket?

Parameters. You are only allowed to use alka-seltzer and water as the materials for your rocket fuel! You must only test one variable(condition) at a time. You should test four data points. A data point is the point you test data at, each data point should have a unique set of conditions. You must have a minimum of three launches for each data point you test. Why is this necessary? All measurements must be precise, accurate, and in metric units.

Forming our experiment, the hows   Variables Hypothesis Constants Measurements  

Reporting your findings Slide Show Slide1: Purpose Question: Restate the question from this lab handout. (2 points) Slide 2: Experiment Blueprint: Diagram of Experimental procedure (3 points) Slide 3-6 Data Tables, graphs, video data (10 points) Slide 5 Summary of your findings in a paragraph form. ( 10 points) Presentation– You will just be presenting you findings to the class, less than 2 minutes, order of presentations will be chosen randomly.