mini baking soda rocket science experiment

How to Make a Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket

Last Updated: August 30, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Meredith Juncker, PhD . Meredith Juncker is a PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Her studies are focused on proteins and neurodegenerative diseases. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 12 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,005,028 times.

Making a baking soda and vinegar rocket is a great idea for a science project, or a fun activity to do with a friend or family member at home. Start by assembling the body of the rocket complete with rocket fins. Use PVC pipe to make a sturdy, reusable launcher. Once you are ready for some action, head outside to an open area to launch your rocket.

Things You Should Know

• Roll a 7 by 9 in (18 by 23 cm) piece of thin cardboard into a cone and tape the cone to the bottom of a 20-ounce (591-mL) soda bottle.
• Cut 5 inches (13 cm) from the end of a PVC pipe to make the launcher. Put the opening of the bottle inside the pipe and fill the bottle halfway with vinegar.
• Put 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda on a paper towel and fold it into a packet. Drop the packet in the bottle, cork the opening, and put the bottle cork-side down in the launcher.

Assembling the Body of the Rocket

• Use your hands to adjust the cardboard to get the perfect cone shape.

• If the cone is too large for the bottle, then trim the opening of the cone until it is just the right size.

• Folding the long edge of each right triangle by 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm).
• Cutting 2 slits, 2 inches (5.1 cm) apart along the creased edge to make 3 tabs.
• Folding the middle tab backward.
• Taping each fins’ tabs to the bottle using duct tape.

Building the Launcher

• Make sure the circumference of the pipe is large enough so that the top of the soda bottle can fit inside.
• You can purchase PVC pipe from your local hardware store.
• Have another person hold the other end of the pipe to keep it steady while you cut, or use clamps to hold the pipe in place.

• If the opening of the bottle is touching the ground, then you will need to cut a larger piece of PVC pipe.

Launching the Rocket

• The paper towel acts as a time release. This way, you will have enough time to step away from the rocket before it explodes.
• If the paper towel breaks, exposing the baking soda, then use a new paper towel.

• Pick a spot outside where you can make a mess.
• The cone part of the rocket should be facing toward the sky.
• If the rocket does not explode, then you may have secured the cork too tightly.

Expert Q&A

• Wear safety goggle to protect your eyes. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3
• Do not point the rocket toward yourself or others. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
• Avoid launching the rocket near cars, houses, windows, and other fragile or valuable items. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2

Things You Will Need

• Empty 20-ounce (591-mL) soda bottle
• Thin cardboard
• Permanent marker
• White distilled vinegar
• Paper towel
• Baking soda

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://formufit.com/pages/how-to-cut-pvc-pipe
• ↑ https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/acid-base-rocket/
• ↑ https://teachbesideme.com/quick-bottle-rockets/

About This Article

To make a baking soda and vinegar rocket, you’ll need an empty plastic bottle, 3 pencils, duct tape, a cork, a paper towel, baking soda, and vinegar. First, use the duct tape to attach the pencils to the plastic bottle to make a stand for your rocket. Then, place 1 scoop of baking soda in the middle of the paper towel, and roll the paper towel up over it. Twist the ends to keep it secure. Next, pour the vinegar into the bottle until it’s halfway full. Take your rocket outside to a wide-open area, drop the pack of baking soda into the bottle, and quickly close the bottle with the cork. Shake the rocket, stand it up on the ground, and stand back! Carbon dioxide gas will build up in the bottle until the pressure pops out the cork and sends your rocket flying. For more tips from our Science co-author, including how to fix your rocket if it doesn't explode, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Quick Bottle Rockets With Baking Soda & Vinegar

This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Make a Bottle Rocket

Supplies you’ll need:

Corks Small plastic bottles (water bottles or small soda bottles work great) Baking Soda Vinegar Small squares of tissue paper or toilet paper Funnel

Pour about an inch worth of vinegar into the bottom of the bottle.

Put about a teaspoon of baking soda onto the tissue square and fold it up (this will create a time-release packet).

This is most definitely an outside project!  You can get as messy as you want. When you are ready to watch it explode, drop the baking soda packet in, put on the cork- tight, but not too tight- and let it explode.  Place it cork side down to watch it fly!

You can do it two different ways.  Right side up, the cork just pops out.  If you do it with the cork side down, the bottle flies up- that is lots more fun!  It happens so quickly that it surprises you!

Watch us make our bottle rockets:

How does the baking soda & vinegar bottle rocket work, find more awesome science activities in my new book: science art & drawing games for kids.

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

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Hi Karyn, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

How fun!!!!

Hi, loved this so much I featured it on this week’s Mom’s Library! Hop over and grab a ‘I was featured on Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk” button! Also, we are having a great Christmas Give-Away to raise awareness for the Ornaments 4 Orphans organization! Can’t wait to see what you have to link up this week!

Julie @ Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk http://heymommychocolatemilk.blogspot.com/2012/12/moms-library-8-for-me-and-give-away.html

Best day!!! I was looking at making a bottle rocket for an activity coming up and just clicked on a link without lookin at the website, and I see the cutest video with one of my college roommates in it. It was so wonderful seeing your beautiful face. And you made the rockets look very easy and doable.

<3 Thanks Kelley! Love you, friend!

Can you tell me if you use water bottles that the cork does not fit can you put duct tape around the cork Should you also use pencils?

You want the cork to be able to easily pop out. If you used duct tape to make the cork a little bigger, that would probably work, but do not tape it to the bottle. Not sure what you mean about the pencils?

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Baking Soda Rocket

Your rocket will fly up, up and away with vinegar and baking soda!

Big Idea Everyday kitchen items can be used to create simple chemical reactions.

Download PDF

• Empty plastic bottle
• Cork that fits the bottle
• Toilet paper or tissue paper
• 3 pencils/pens (for tripod)
• Baking Soda

Setup At a table lined with newspaper, set out the empty plastic bottle, 3 pencils or 3 pens, and duct tape.

• Begin by creating your rocket. Use an empty plastic bottle, three pencils or pens and duct tape. Make sure that your bottle is corked and standing on the three pencils or pens creating a tripod.
• Next, step is creating the rocket fuel or baking soda packets. Cut a square piece of toilet paper or ½ piece of tissue then put 1 scoop of Baking Soda in the middle and roll it together tight. Be sure to twist the ends of the toilet paper or tissue so it will fit inside the opening of the bottle. Make several baking soda packets.
• Go outside to an open area about six feet away from buildings or cars and find a flat, safe launching “pad”. Set up a video recorder so you can record your rocket launch (and send your results back to KCM!).
• Next, have an adult with safety glasses fill the empty plastic container with vinegar using the funnel.
• Very carefully place one of the baking soda packets into the plastic container, put cork on and quickly get away.
• Watch what happens. Guess how high you think the rocket will go? How long does it take to happen? When the lid pops off the rocket should launch. This could take several tries. Tip: Make sure your cork is secure and your rocket is standing on the pencils or pens.
• Then try changing the amount of baking soda to vinegar ratio. What do you think will happen?

Baking soda and vinegar mix together to create a reaction resulting in water and carbon dioxide gas. The pressure of the carbon dioxide gas forces the cork to pop off and the rocket to launch. This is an example of Newton’s third Law of Motion. When you apply a force in one direction, the opposite equal reaction will take place in the opposite direction.

8) Be good to the earth and rinse away the baking soda and vinegar residue left behind the experiment.

Investigation Questions:

• What do you think will happen when the baking soda and vinegar are in the rocket?
• Guess how high you think the rocket will go.
• How long does it take to happen?
• What happens when you change the ratio of baking soda to vinegar?

Learning Standards

1.A Demonstrate understanding through age-appropriate responses. Children will create their own unique Baking Soda Rocket following the teacher’s simple one, two, and three step directions.

7.A Measure objects and quantities using direct comparison methods and non-standard units. Children will measure out 1TBS baking soda to put into the packets.

10. A Generate questions and processes for answering them. Children will begin to make and ask meaningful questions and answers with a little teacher support

12.C Explore the physical properties of objects. Children will explore and discuss simple chemical reactions with the baking soda and vinegar with the teacher assistance

Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket Science Experiment for Kids

• Kids Activities
• Science Experiments
• Solar System
• Kindergarten

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This vinegar and baking soda rocket is an out-of-this-world fun AND educational summer activity for kids ! Preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students will enjoy making the baking soda rocket . This how to make a bottle rocket  project is one of those really cool science projects your kids will remember forever! So grab a couple simple materials you have laying around your house and make these  rocket science experiments .

Baking soda and vinegar rocket

We are diving into a solar system unit so we are exploring all things space including  rockets for kids ! Preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6 students will love this STEM activity for kids where they will design their own rocket, lego launch pad, and observe a baking soda and vinegar reaction. This  homemade rocket is a memorable  summer science experiment for kids of all ages. Plus this  baking soda and vinegar rocket  is a fun solar system project.  Let’s get started  with this super simple  rocket science experiment with a big WOW at the end!

Plus don’t miss our summer activities , free summer word searches , fun ice cream in a bag experiment pdf , free ice cream math worksheets, edible ice cream play doh , silly watermelon slime ,

Rocket experiment

All you need to make this really cool,  summer fun idea are a few simple materials you probably already have on hand:

• 2 liter soda bottle that is both empty and rinced
• decorations for rocket – ideas may include construction paper, paint, sharpies, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, circle stickers, bingo markers, etc
• buiding toys to build the launch pad such as Lego bricks, tinker toys, blocks, Duplo, etc)
• 1-2 cups vinegar
• paper towel
• 1-2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
• wine cork or similar to quickly cover the opening of soda bottle

Rocket Science experiment

The first part of this  rocket project for kids  is to decorate your own rocket. Kids will love this artistic part of this STEAM Project for kids! They can use construction paper to give it a quick color boost, paint, sharpies, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, circle stickers, bingo markers, etc. Let their imaginations run wild as they decide how they want their rocket to look. I suggest showing them books, NASA pictures, and videos so they have an idea of what rockets can look like and to give them a little more background for this educational  space activity for kids .

how to make a rocket for a science project

Now it’s time to build a launch pad. This is the engineering part of this STEAM challenge for kids! Children can use duplo blocks, lego, lincoln logs, etc. They just need a way to hold the bottle rocket upside down steadily for it to launch.

Rocket Science Project

Next up is preparing the rocket fuel – the science part of the STEAM challenge. You will fuel up the rocket with a very simple solution of 1 – 2 cups of vinegar in the bottle. When the baking soda and vinegar mix they will form a chemical recation that will result in extra carbon dioxide being produced which will push out the cork and force the bottle to go up into the air.

Now take a piece of paper towel and cut it to about 4 inches square. Place about HEAPING tablespoon of baking soda in the centre of the paper towel. Fold up the paper towel so the baking soda is wrapped up inside and it fits snugly inside the mouth of the bottle. Insert a wine cork into the mouth of the pop bottle, make sure it is in there tightly.

Rocket experiment preschool

Now take it outside with open space – Our rockets hit anywhere from 30 to 50 feet in height.

Baking soda rocket

You need to move quickly for this next part. Flip the bottle over, and QUICKLY place it in the launchpad!  Hurry back as the countdown begins as soon as the baking soda and vinegar touch.

Easy rocket experiment

With this fun summer science project you will learn about

• Engineering, measurements (math) as you
• physics to create a base that is functional, strong and stable. Then we learned about physics and how when you trap that gas from the chemical reaction pressure builds up and when finally released it has enough force to cause thrust, therefore launching our rocket “into the clouds!”
• Chemical reactions with our all time favorite reaction: baking soda and vinegar (base and acid). We learned about how this particular chemical reaction has one important product: Carbon Dioxide Gas.
• Clean Up After you are done setting off your rockets, make sure you rinse everything with lots of water so it doesn’t damage anything. Including all your Lego or Tinker Toys (or whatever you used to engineer your base), plus the area where you set off your reaction.

Vinegar and baking soda rocket

Safety Note: Make sure there is always adult supervision. I highly an adult launch the rocket while younger children cheer for this project from a distance. Remember there is vinegar in the bottle and when it launches the vinegar will spray. So arm your rocket and place it immediately into the launchpad and move away quickly!

Solar System Activities for Kids

Looking for more fun, hands on science activities to teach kids about astronomy or to round out your solar system for kids unit. You will love these hands on solar system activities and lessons:

• The Sun Activities for Kindergarten   – learn about the sun and how the planets orbit around it including a fun planets game for kids!
• Moon Activities for Kids & Astronauts Too  – make oreo moon phases, DIY telescope, learn about the astronauts who landed on the moon, and more!
• Inner Planets for Kids (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) –  Use our free planet worksheets and fun hands-on activities like Mercury craters, Venus’ melting rocks, layers of the earth, and Erupting Mars Volcano
• Outer Planets for Kids (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)  – combination of hands-on solar system projects and solar system printables; gaseous Jupiter, Saturn Rocket, plus cloudy Uranus and Neptune.
• Pluto, Asteroid Belt, Comets, and Stars for Kids – make a FUN constellation projector, cold Pluto ice cream project, and grape constellation project
• Yarn Solar System Project – fun, unique, and easy solar system model that is cheap and so pretty!
• Paint Stick Solar System Project – easy-to-make solar system model for kids that doubles as an activity for learning the names and order of the planets
• Pipe Cleaner Constellations – fun hands on pipe cleaner constellations activity for kids
• Simple Galaxy Science Experiments
• Looking for more fun, engaging, creative, and memorable moon projects for kids? You will love this 50 Moon Activities for Kids & Crafts collection with the best ideas from the whole internet!
• TONS of really cool Solar System Project Ideas for kids of all ages

Free Solar System Printables

Plus, don’t forget to add these free solar system worksheets and printables to your lesson plan:

• HUGE pack of FREE Solar System Worksheets   for elementary age kids
• Planet worksheets for kindergarten with solar system themed math and literacy activities for preschoolers, kindergartners, and grade 1 students
• Simple Astronaut Coloring Pages
• Space Worksheets Preschool
• Free Constellation Worksheets
• Solar System Coloring Pages to read, learn, and color the solar system
• Printable Free Constellations Printable pdf for children to learn about stars and the patterns they make in the night sky
• Cootie Catcher Constellation Activities for Kids
• Free Constellation Cards
• Moon Phases Kindergarten Worksheets – HUGE pack!
• Planets Solar System for Kids pdf Book for students to learn about all the planets in our solar system
• Moon Phases Printable Mini Book for kids to learn about the phases of the moon

Beth Gorden

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of 123 Homeschool 4 Me. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! She has created over 1 million pages of printables to help teach kids ABCs, science, English grammar, history, math, and so much more! Beth is also the creator of 2 additional sites with even more educational activities and FREE printables – www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com and www.preschoolplayandlearn.com. Beth studied at the University of Northwestern where she got a double major to make her effective at teaching children while making education FUN!

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Babble Dabble Do

How To Make Baking Soda Rockets

July 30, 2020 by Ana Dziengel Leave a Comment

Never underestimate baking soda rockets . The chemical reaction used to launch Blast-Off Bottle Rockets produces enough carbon dioxide to propel the bottle high into the sky! So high that one of the three rockets I made is currently sitting in our persimmon tree 30 feet above ground. I may see it again in December when the tree loses its leaves.

This post is sponsored by Arm & Hammer. All opinions are my own.

Today’s  Arm & Hammer Summer Camp science project  will require adult supervision at launch time.  Of all the experiments we did for camp this one elicited the most gasps and excitement. I mean how can you not love the anticipation of a good rocket launch?

Today’s project is the fourth science experiment in a fantastic summer resource,  Arm & Hammer Summer Camp . I’ve enjoyed being the camp science counselor so much!

Blast Off Baking Soda Rockets

Downloadable directions here, materials .

• Safety glasses
• Empty 2-liter soda bottle
• 3 tablespoons ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda
• 2-3 cups vinegar
• Construction paper/Cardboard Use to decorate rocket
• Cork (make sure it will fit mouth of soda bottle)
• Paper towels
• Measuring cup, funnel

Instructions

Time needed: 30-45 minutes

Secure 3 pencils to the bottle using duct tape to make “legs” for your rocket. The bottle opening should be facing down when the bottle is placed on its legs. Make sure the legs are placed high enough to allow for 1-2” of space between the bottle opening and the flat surface below.

Decorate the bottle with duct tape, paper, and/or cardboard to make a rocket as desired.

Turn the bottle over so that the pencil legs are facing up. Add 2-3 cups of vinegar to the bottle and cork it. Set aside.

Cut a paper towel into a square. Add 2-3 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda onto the paper towel. Roll the paper towel tightly enough so that it will fit inside bottle opening. DON’T add it to the bottle yet!

Add duct tape to one end to keep the baking soda from spilling out.

Take everything outside to clear open area.

Adults or older kids only: I highly recommend wearing safety goggles for the following steps. Place the rocket upside down and remove the cork. Working quickly, place your paper towel packet inside the bottle and plug with cork. Turn the bottle over, place on its ’legs’ and STAND BACK! Watch as the rocket soars into the sky.

• Safety Note: It may take a moment for the reaction to build up enough gas to launch the rocket. Give it time!
• The weight of your rocket will affect how far it launches. Our rocket covered in cardboard launched about 15 feet into the air while the rocket without any decorations fellow about 30 feet high.

The science behind baking soda bottle rockets

Similar to yesterday’s experiment we are working with an acid base chemical reaction in this project. When the vinegar and baking soda react one of the bi-products of the reaction is the production of carbon dioxide gas.

When we cork the bottle while the reaction is occurring, the gas has nowhere to escape. It builds up inside the bottle until it reaches a point where the pressure inside the bottle is great enough to push the cork out and launch the bottle into the sky! Head over to the science section of yesterday’s post here to learn even more about what is happening in this reaction.

I have to admit that I had never made the classic baking soda and vinegar rockets before this. I honestly thought that the amount of gas produced in this reaction would never be enough to really launch a bottle rocket…but I was completely wrong!

And if you missed them, see the past three experiments in our camp series here:

• Tie Dyed Slime
• DIY Lava Lamp
• Fizzing Hands

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STEM Little Explorers

Knowing through exploring.

Home » Articles » STEM » STEM Engineering » How to make Homemade Rocket with Vinegar and Baking Soda

How to make Homemade Rocket with Vinegar and Baking Soda

Space…the final frontier. our mission is to boldly go where no rocket on vinegar and baking soda has ever gone before, article contents.

“Status Number One?” “All systems ready to launch captain.” “Engage!” Jean-Luc Picard

What better way to start today’s activity than with the familiar dialog between captain Picard and his first officer from the popular TV show Star Trek? Because today we will show you how to make a homemade rocket and launch it on its very first exploration mission! All we need for our propulsion system is a little vinegar and baking soda. This is an excellent science fair project or school project that will impress everyone and showcase your engineering and science skills.

The science behind rockets

In the distant past, launching a rocket device was largely a matter of chance. It may fly, it may explode or it may fizzle. All advancements in that field were made on a lengthy process of trial and error. 

That all changed when humans started to use scientific and mathematical principles of motion . That started in 17. century with great scientists like Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton . Galileo discovered that moving objects don’t need the continuous application of force to continue moving if there is an absence of friction and drag (in a vacuum). Galileo discovered the principle of inertia that says that all things resist changes in motion. The more mass the object has, the more resistance it makes. Isac Newton advanced Galileo’s discoveries and he made 3 basic laws of motion that are the foundation of all rocket science.

• First Newton law : Objects at rest remain at rest and objects in motion remain in motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
• Third Newton Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So the First Newton law tells us how rocket, resting on the launch pad needs the exertion of an unbalanced force to make it move. The amount of that force (produced by rocket engines) needs to be greater than gravity that is holding the rocket. As long as that force continues to work, the rocket will fly up. If the engines stop to produce the force, the rocket will start to fall, pulled by the Earth’s gravity. One important implication in rocket science is that the atmospheric drag (also called friction ) is eliminated when the rocket reaches the space. So the rocket flying 11.186 km/s, or 40 270 km/h will manage to leave Earth’s gravity without any additional force used. The rocket will slow down, but never enough that gravity pulls it down and the rocket starts to fall back on Earth.

If you’re interested in exploring First Newton’s law in more detail, be sure to check What is Inertia and how to demonstrate it article where we explore inertia in more details.

Now we need to jump to Newton’s third law to better explain what happens next. The law of action and reaction . When talking about the rocket, gas, smoke and flames that are produced by rocket engines represent action and the rocket moving upwards is a reaction . So even if combustion products from the rocket engine accelerate rapidly, the rocket accelerates slowly. How is that possible if we know that action and reaction should be equal?

The reason is that the mass of combustion products (smoke, fire, gas) is much lower than the mass of the rocket so even if the force is equal, the effect is different. This is explained by the first Newton’s law that states that it takes a force to change the motion of an object. The bigger the mass of an object, the more force we need to move it.

We can see that from the equation stated in the second Newton’s law: f = ma . The force produced by the rocket engine is proportional to the mass that is produced by the burning rocket propellant times the acceleration of that burning rocket propellant. It is important to note that the law only applies to particles going out of the rocket engines and not to the fuel stored for later.

So in short, rocket science says: the more propellant (m) you discharge at the same time, and the bigger the acceleration (a) of that propellant, the greater the thrust (f).

Although knowing Newton’s laws is the first step in building and launching the rocket, there are more factors that influence will our rocket reach the space. One example is air pressure . Air pressure is an important factor while the rocket is still in the atmosphere. The pressure produced by the burning rocket fuel must be greater than the outside air pressure. That means that some fuel needs to be burned just to create enough pressure to compensate for the air pressure. And as the rocket climbs higher and higher, the air pressure becomes smaller so the rocket engine thrust increases.

Another important factor is mass . The mass of the rocket decreases as the fuel is burned, so the acceleration of the rocket increases.

And the last factor we will mention, that can influence the flight of the rocket is the choice of fuel or propellant . Not all fuels are alike, and we would think that the go-to fuel would be the one with higher thrust. But it’s not that simple since every fuel comes with a tradeoff. For example, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen produce greater thrust but they both need to be kept at very low temperatures. Next to that, their mass is low and the rocket needs very big tanks to store enough fuel to get the rocket out of the atmosphere.

To sum it up, we can say that knowing Newton’s laws is enough to become a junior rocket scientist but we will need a bit more knowledge to build our first successful rocket. If you are interested in the history of rockets , NASA has some great resources and you can check how did rocket science develop from ancient times until today.

How does the Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket work?

When we mix vinegar (HCH 3 COO) and baking soda (NaHCO 3 ), we get the so-called acid-base reaction . Here vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. An acid is a chemical that wants to get rid of a positively charged hydrogen atom (proton) and base wants that proton. In that reaction when the baking soda receives proton from the acid, it transforms into water and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide rapidly expands, and if the space is too small, it explodes. 

While building a rocket, our goal is to allow that pressure to release at the right time and on the right spot. That will make our rocket defy gravity and launch upwards.

Materials needed for Homemade Rocket

• Empty plastic bottle
• Baking soda
• Wooden sticks or pencils (for launching pad)
• Scotch tape
• Optional: Funnel

Instructions for Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket

We have a video on how to make a homemade rocket at the start of the article or continue reading instructions below if you prefer step by step text guide.

• Make launching pad out of wooden sticks or pencils. Tape 3 sticks so the bottle can stand on them. Tape the sticks so they are going over the bottle cap. When we put a bottle on the sticks, the bottom of the bottle will look upwards, and the bottle cap will look down.
• Check if your cork is a good fit for the bottle. If it’s not, you can use duct tape to make it fit better.
• Decorate bott…rocket as you wish and you are ready to launch!
• It would be really smart to go outside for this. 🙂
• Pour vinegar (1 – 2 dL is enough)
• If the pressure builds too fast, you can put baking soda in a piece of paper, put in the bottle, put the cork on and shake it so you start a reaction
• 3, 2, 1, Blastoff!

What will you develop and learn

• Engineering skills while building a rocket
• Aerodynamics
• Chemical reactions
• Fine motor skills
• Newton’s laws of motion
• That science is fun! 🙂

If you liked this activity and are interested in more ways to build a rocket, check out the article on How to build a match head rocket . And if you are interested in more activities with vinegar and baking soda, try watching How to make a homemade Volcano .

If you’re searching for some great STEM Activities for Kids and Child development tips, you’re in the right place! Check the Categories below to find the right activity for you.

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Baking Soda Rocket – Experiment

• Materials for a launch pad (e.g. cardboard, building sticks/blocks)
• An empty plastic bottle
• Baking Soda
• Strong Tape
• A table spoon
• A paper towel
• A cork (optional)

• Whether you want to start with building the rocket first or the launch pad is up to you. But for the latter, there’s a number of different ways to do so. I simply stuck with cardboard, rolling one side to form a cylinder and then taping it so it wouldn’t unravel. When doing this, it’s important to keep in mind the size of your bottle and the sturdiness of your cardboard. Just to note: your bottle will be placed upside-down on the launchpad, so you have to make sure it can stand upright.

• The second part to creating your fuel will involve the baking soda and paper towel. Grab a large spoonful of baking soda and place it in the middle of the paper towel. Once again, you can experiment with different amounts, but the more you use the BIGGER the blast off! After that, wrap the baking soda in your paper towel and firmly fit it into the mouth of the bottle.

• With that, your bottle rocket should be ready for lift-off! Find a big, open space outside and prepare your launch pad and bottle rocket. When you’re good and ready, tip the bottle upside-down, place it onto your launch pad and quickly step back and watch your rocket fly (hopefully). And that’s the ‘Baking Soda Rocket’ experiment – I hope you enjoyed it!

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July 4, 2013

Spectacle Science: Exploring Homemade Rockets

A 4th of July chemistry challenge from Science Buddies

By Science Buddies

Key concepts Chemical reactions Physics Gravity Rockets Thrust Pressurization

Introduction Have you ever marveled at how fireworks, toy rockets or real spacecraft can launch into the air? It can be an amazing thing to witness. It is thrilling to see something lift off against Earth's gravity. The strong push required to launch a spacecraft comes from a chemical reaction in its rockets. This means that every time you see a spacecraft launch, you're watching chemistry at work. In this activity you'll get to blast an object into the air using two simple household ingredients: baking soda and vinegar. Investigate how to mix these chemicals to get the best lift off, and then this Independence Day you could give your family a homemade, gravity-defying show!

Background How does a spacecraft lift off and get into space? The simple answer is that it has rocket engines that propel it. The rockets depend on combustion to provide the thrust the spacecraft needs to overcome the force of gravity and climb into orbit. Combustion is a fast, exothermic chemical reaction between a fuel (for example, jet fuel) and an oxidizer (such as oxygen) in which the fuel burns and heat is produced. Usually the fuel is an organic compound (containing hydrogen and carbon, and sometimes metal and/or other components). During the chemical reaction, new compounds are made. These are referred to as the exhaust. The rockets push the hot exhaust out from the bottom at high pressure and thus the spacecraft is thrust upward.

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In this activity instead of using rocket fuel you will use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid) to make a different kind of chemical reaction that can launch a small-scale rocket made from a film canister. The reaction produces water and carbon dioxide (which will appear as bubbles). You'll take advantage of the pressure the carbon dioxide gas makes in the capped film canister to launch your rocket.

Materials • Plastic film canister with a lid and tight seal. Fuji or Kodak canisters should work. • Baking soda • Measuring spoons • Wax paper or bowl • Spoon • Water • Vinegar • An open outdoor area at least two meters from buildings. It is ideal to have a hard, flat surface such as a paved patio or driveway. • Safety goggles • Rag or paper towel • Optional: Construction paper, transparent tape, stickers and scissors • Optional: A helper to watch, a helper to take a video or a video camera with a tripod

Preparation • If you like, you may decorate your film canister rocket. You could wrap a piece of construction paper around the canister and cut the paper so it just covers the rocket's sides (but does not go above or below the sides). After evenly wrapping the paper on the canister, secure it with some tape. You can add additional flat decorations, like stickers or drawings. Make sure it is still easy to put the lid on. • Remember, when you launch your film canister rocket be sure to wear eye protection and exercise caution!

Procedure • Place one teaspoon (tsp.) of baking soda onto the wax paper or bowl. Add one eighth tsp. of water to the baking soda and mix it in well. If you're using wax paper, you can carefully use the wax paper to fold the damp baking soda onto itself to help mix in the water. • Turn the film canister lid upside down and pack the inside of the depression with the damp baking soda. (Do not put baking soda near the rim where the canister snaps onto the lid.) Pack it tightly. Turn the lid right side up again for a moment. Does the damp baking soda stay in place? If it stays, move on to preparing the vinegar. If it falls out, add a little bit more water to the baking soda and mix it in, but try to add as little water as needed. The baking soda will not need to stay packed into the lid long. • Add one tsp. of vinegar to the canister at a time, filling it almost to the top. You need to add as much vinegar to the canister as possible—just enough to keep the vinegar and the baking soda from coming into contact when you later snap the lid onto the canister. Depending on the canister, this may be about five tsp. of vinegar. How much vinegar did you use? • Go outside to an open area at least six feet from buildings. If you want to videotape the reactions, set the video camera so that it has in its viewfinder the spot where you will launch your canister rocket and the equivalent of at least the first story of a building and then start the video. (Alternatively, you may have a helper watch the reactions to help you figure out how high the canisters go.) • Put on your safety goggles. Stoop down near the ground on a flat, hard spot and quickly snap the lid onto the canister to seal it. Immediately turn the canister over so the lid is on the ground, and quickly move away. Wait for the chemical reaction to occur. How long does it take to happen? When the lid pops off, the rocket should launch. How high does the canister go? • Tip: If the rocket did not launch, the lid might not have been sealed tightly enough. (If this happens you may simply see many foamy bubbles coming out of the canister.) The rocket may not have launched right for some other apparent reason (such as not sealing the lid fast enough). If it didn't launch right, try preparing and launching the canister rocket again. You may need a little practice to get used to launching the rocket. • After the launch, carefully rinse the lid and canister with water and then dry them. If your canister is covered by construction paper, make sure it doesn't get too wet. • Prepare the damp baking soda and vinegar as before but this time use a little more than half the original amount of vinegar. For example, if you used five tsp. of vinegar, this time use three tsp. (Still use one tsp. of baking soda.) • Again, go outdoors, put your safety goggles on and launch your newly prepared canister rocket. Does it take longer, shorter or about the same amount of time as the first rocket did to launch? Does it go a higher, shorter or about the same distance? • Lastly, rinse the lid and canister with water, dry them and prepare them as before but this time use one tsp. of vinegar (or around one fifth of the original amount that you used). Put your safety goggles on, go outside and launch the canister rocket. How long does it take to launch compared with the other two launches? How high does the canister go compared with the previous two times? • If you're unsure of any of your results, you can try repeating them (using the same amount of baking soda and vinegar). • What amount of vinegar led to the highest launch height? Why do you think this is? • Extra: You can try varying the amount of vinegar even more and see how this affects the rocket's launch, such as using one, two, then three tsps., etcetera, of vinegar. (You could also repeat the same conditions you tested to see how consistent your results are.) How does changing the amount of vinegar in the canister change how it launches? • Extra : You could also try changing the amount of baking soda (keeping the same amount of vinegar) and see how this affects the canister's launch. For example, you could try comparing one, three-fourths, one-half and one-quarter tsp. of baking soda. (Adjust and use just enough water for the baking soda to stick to the depression in the lid.) How does changing the amount of baking soda in the lid affect the canister's launch? • Extra: Add a cone and fins to your rocket (such as out of construction paper) and launch it again using the best conditions you found. How does adding these components affect the canister's launch? Observations and results Did the launch using the smallest amount of vinegar result in the highest launch height? Did it also take the most time to launch?

When baking soda and vinegar are mixed together, the reaction produces water and carbon dioxide gas. In the capped film canister, the carbon dioxide gas builds up until the pressure of all of the contained gas causes the canister to pop open. The pressurized carbon dioxide then quickly escapes the canister through the open bottom. This is how the chemical reaction provides the thrust the canister needs to launch. You may have noticed that when the least amount of vinegar was used, it took a little longer to launch than when more vinegar was used. Because there was less vinegar in the canister, there was more space for carbon dioxide gas to fill. It takes longer for more carbon dioxide to be made from the reaction and thereby more is needed to fill this larger space and build up enough pressure to pop the lid open like it did before. Overall, when the least amount of vinegar is used, more carbon dioxide can fill the canister and a higher launch height should be seen (possibly around 15 feet, compared with around six feet when the canister was nearly full of vinegar).

Cleanup If you launched your rocket on a concrete surface, spray the surface down with some water after you have completed your launches.

More to explore Rocket Thrust , from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Combustion , from NASA Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction and Demonstrations , from apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com Rocketology: Baking Soda + Vinegar = Liftoff! , from Science Buddies This activity brought to you in partnership with  Science Buddies

Mini Pop Rocket

Activity length, forces and motion, activity type, demonstration.

In this activity, students construct a rocket using a canister with a snap on lid and set it off with an effervescing antacid tablet.

Alka-Seltzer contains citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). When you drop the tablet in water, the acid and the baking soda react to produce carbon dioxide gas.

The CO2 gas pushes against the lid of the canister until there is so much pressure that the lid pops off. When the gas explodes downwards, it pushes the rocket in the opposite direction, causing it to go up ( Newton’s Law of Motion ).

This system of thrust is how a real rocket works, whether it is in outer space or here in the earth's atmosphere. The difference is that real rockets use rocket fuel.

This activity is best done outside or in a large space (like a gym) that is easy to clean. 

Explore and demonstrate the effects of action and reaction forces.

Per Student: 1 empty film canister, 1oz playdough, or container with a lid that snaps on tightly paper scissors tape 1/2 Effervescent antacid tablet (Alka-Seltzer works the best) water eye protection

Key Questions

• What makes the pop rocket move?
• What forces are acting on the canister rocket and in what direction are they acting?
• Which rockets went the highest, and why?
• How can you make the rocket go higher?
• Why does the rocket come back to the ground?

Part 1: Building the Rocket

• Make the rocket body: Tape one side of a piece of paper onto the canister, with the open end of the canister exposed. Roll the paper around the canister to create a tube and fasten it with another piece of tape. Leave some space between the open end of the canister and your rocket body, so that you can easily open/close the canister.

Part 2: Launching the Rocket

• For safety, go outside. This rocket will fly up very high and very quickly. Don’t forget to put on your eye protection!
• Remove the lid and fill the canister 1/4–1/3 full of water.
• Get the film canister lid and effervescent antacid tablet ready.

WARNING: the next steps must be done within 5 seconds!

• Drop the half tablet into the canister.
• Snap on the lid tightly.
• Place the rocket on a firm surface with the lid down.

• Experiment with different fuel mixtures (add more or less Alka-Seltzer and/or water) and record the results. How much water causes the rocket to fly the highest? What is the ideal size tablet for a certain amount of water?
• Does water temperature affect how fast the rocket launches?
• Experiment with different body sizes, construction materials, and cone and fin sizes and shapes to create a different rocket.
• Add a payload (e.g. toy astronauts) and record what happens.
• Try replacing the film canister with an alternative such as mini (1 oz) playdough containers, snap-together Easter eggs or non-childproof prescription bottles with snap-on lids (available at pharmacies). Do they perform differently?

Other Resources

Science World Resources | Fusée gazeuse | French version of this resource

About the sticker

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

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From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket Experiment: Launching a Simple Rocket

The Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket experiment is an exciting and hands-on activity that demonstrates the reaction between baking soda and vinegar to create a gas that propels a simple rocket into the air. This experiment provides a fun way to learn about chemical reactions and the principles of propulsion.

Materials Needed for this science experiment:

• Film canister with a tight-fitting lid or plastic bottle (clear if possible)
• Baking soda
• Tissue or paper towel
• Protective cover for the workspace
• Optional: Food coloring

1. Set Up the Workspace: Choose a clean and open area for the experiment. Place a protective cover on the surface to catch any spills.

2. Prepare the Film Canister: Open the film canister and place a small amount of baking soda (about 1 teaspoon) in the canister’s bottom. If you want to add a colorful effect, you can add a drop of food coloring to the baking soda.

3. Add Vinegar: Pour vinegar (about 1-2 tablespoons) into a small container. Wrap a tissue or paper towel around the mouth of the film canister, making sure it doesn’t block the opening.

4. Assemble the Rocket: Quickly place the lid on the film canister, sealing it tightly. Make sure the tissue or paper towel is securely in place, acting as a plug.

5. Position the Rocket: Place the film canister rocket on a flat surface, lid side down. Step back to a safe distance.

6. Lift the Rocket: Lift the film canister slightly and turn it upside down so that the vinegar comes into contact with the baking soda.

7. Launch the Rocket: Set the canister back down and stand clear. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar will produce carbon dioxide gas, building up pressure inside the canister. Eventually, the pressure will cause the lid to pop off, and the rocket will launch into the air.

8. Observe and Enjoy: Watch in amazement as your rocket launches into the air with a fizzy propulsion. The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar generates the gas that propels the rocket.

9. Experiment with Variations: You can experiment with different amounts of baking soda and vinegar to see how they affect the rocket’s launch height and intensity.

10. Reflect on Chemical Reactions: Discuss with children how the reaction between baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) produces carbon dioxide gas. The gas builds up pressure inside the canister, causing the lid to pop off and propelling the rocket.

11. Safety Note: Always launch the rocket outdoors in an open area. Make sure to stand clear and avoid pointing the rocket at people or animals.

The Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket experiment is a thrilling and educational way to explore the principles of chemical reactions and propulsion. It’s a fantastic opportunity for children to engage with science in a hands-on and visually impressive manner.

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Baking Soda Science Experiments for Kids

The Wonderful World of Baking Soda: A Science Experiment for Kids

Baking soda is a common household ingredient that can be used for more than just baking. It’s also a great tool for science experiments! In this blog post, we’ll explore some fun and easy baking soda experiments that you can do at home.

What is Baking Soda?

Baking soda is a chemical compound called sodium bicarbonate. It’s a white powder that is often used as a leavening agent in baking. When baking soda is mixed with an acid, it releases carbon dioxide gas, which causes the batter to rise.

Experiment 1: The Volcano Eruption

This classic experiment is a fun way to demonstrate the chemical reaction that occurs when baking soda is mixed with vinegar.

• Baking soda
• A small container (like a plastic cup or bottle)
• Modeling clay
• Red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

• Shape the modeling clay into a volcano shape around the container. Make sure there’s a small opening at the top of the volcano.
• Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into the container.
• Add a few drops of red food coloring to the vinegar (optional).
• Carefully pour the vinegar into the container. Watch as the mixture bubbles and foams, creating a volcano eruption!

Experiment 2: The Magic Balloon

This experiment shows how baking soda can be used to inflate a balloon without blowing into it.

• A small bottle or container
• A funnel (optional)
• Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into the balloon.
• Pour a few tablespoons of vinegar into the bottle or container.
• Carefully stretch the balloon over the mouth of the bottle or container, making sure the baking soda falls into the vinegar.
• Watch as the balloon inflates!

Experiment 3: The Rainbow Density Tower

This experiment demonstrates the concept of density and how different liquids separate based on their weight.

• Vegetable oil
• Red, yellow, and blue food coloring
• A tall, clear glass or jar
• Add a few drops of red food coloring to the water.
• Add a few drops of yellow food coloring to the dish soap.
• Add a few drops of blue food coloring to the vegetable oil.
• Carefully pour the liquids into the glass or jar in this order: vegetable oil, dish soap, water. Make sure to pour each liquid slowly so that it doesn’t mix with the others.
• Add a pinch of baking soda to the top of the oil layer. Watch as the baking soda sinks through the layers until it reaches the water, where it will fizz and create a rainbow effect!

Safety Tips

• Always supervise children when they are doing science experiments.
• Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes.
• Use baking soda and vinegar in a well-ventilated area.
• Don’t eat or drink anything that has been used in the experiments.

These are just a few examples of fun and educational baking soda experiments that you can do at home. With a little bit of creativity, you can use baking soda to teach children about science in a fun and engaging way.

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100 Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love!

Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment (Plus Free Worksheet)

It’s like magic!

Kids and balloons go hand-in-hand so why not try a fun science experiment that incorporates a balloon or two? This experiment requires little more than what you already have in your kitchen cabinet. Grab a dash of baking soda, a splash of vinegar, and learn all about acids, bases, states of matter, and chemical reactions! Everyone will be amazed watching a balloon inflate without a single breath being blown.

Fill out the form on this page to grab your free printable recording sheet , and try the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment with your little scientists!

How does the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment work?

The baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction between an acid and a base. The baking soda acts as the base and the vinegar as the acid. When the two combine, carbon dioxide (CO2) escapes the container and causes the balloon to blow up.

What does this experiment teach?

This experiment teaches how different states of matter transform when combined. In this case, a solid (baking soda) and a liquid (vinegar) mix to produce a gas (CO2). Since carbon dioxide is the same gas that is released when humans breathe out, students will make the connection between human breath blowing up a balloon and the reaction of this experiment doing the same.

Is there a baking soda and vinegar balloon video?

This video shows how to do the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment, using just a few ingredients.

Materials Needed

To do the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment, you will need:

• Approximately 1/2 cup of vinegar
• Empty water bottle or similar container
• Baking soda
• Measuring spoon
• Deflated balloon

Our free recording sheet is also helpful— fill out the form on this page to get it.

Baking soda and balloon experiment steps:

1. blow up a balloon just enough to stretch it out a bit. then, use the funnel and measuring spoon to add about a teaspoon of baking soda inside the balloon..

2. Fill the water bottle or other container about halfway with vinegar.

3. Attach your filled balloon to the container with the vinegar. Make sure the seal is tight!

4. Once you’re all set up, hold the balloon up so the baking soda gets released into the vinegar.

5. Finally, watch the balloon blow up!

Grab our baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment worksheet!

Click the button below to get your worksheet. The worksheet asks kids to guess the correct order of the steps in the experiment. Next, kids must make a prediction about what they think will happen. They can use the provided spaces to draw what happens before and after they add the baking soda to the vinegar. Did their predictions come true?

Additional Reflection Questions

• What happened when the baking soda was added to the vinegar?
• Why do you think the balloon inflated?
• Why do you think the balloon eventually stops blowing up?
• What do you think would happen if we used more or less baking soda?

Can this experiment be done for a science fair?

Yes! If you want to do the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment for a science fair, we recommend switching up some of the variables. For example: Does the amount of vinegar matter? What if you run two experiments side by side with different amounts of baking soda? Which balloon filled up faster? Form a hypothesis about how changing the variables will impact the experiment. Good luck!

Looking for more experiment ideas? Check out our  big list of science experiments.

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