STEAM Activity: Rocket Says Look Up! | Los Angeles Public Library

Story Hackers: STEAM Activity, The Rocket Says Look Up

Build a Balloon Rocket

This activity will demonstrate some of the basic principles behind how rockets work. From this experiment, you’ll learn that rockets carry containers filled with substances that when ignited, produce gasses. These gasses escape through vents in the rear of the rocket. The gasses produced by the rocket go backwards, which drives the rocket forward.

Materials:

Balloon
String
Straw
Tape

Instructions:

Thread one end of the string through the drinking straw.
Attach the string to something stable, like a heavy piece of furniture.
Blow up the balloon and hold on to the opening, but don’t tie it up!
Ask someone to help tape the balloon to the straw.
Release the balloon and watch it soar across the string!

Source: At Home Astronomy - Rockets Away

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