Hooked on Science: 3, 2, 1, blast off

Using a few materials from around the house, you can create a rocket. It's an out-of-this-world experiment that will teach you force, motion and chemical reactions.

Materials

* Film canister

* Water

* Alka-Seltzer tablet

Instructions

STEP 1: Pour the water into the film canister until it is half full.

STEP 2: Place one of the Alka-Seltzer tablets into the film canister, snap on the lid and quickly flip it upside down.

Explanation

Carbon dioxide is produced as a result of a chemical reaction between the water and Alka-Seltzer tablet. The carbon dioxide builds up pressure until there is enough force to launch the film canister into the air.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindseyhookedonscience.com.