Audience
Educators
Grade Levels
Grades K-4, Grades 5-8, Informal Education
Subject
Physical Science, Forces and Motion
Type
Lesson Plans / Activities
This activity is a simple but exciting demonstration of Newton’s Laws of Motion. The rocket lifts off because an unbalanced force acts upon it (first law). This is the force produced when the lid is blown off by the gas formed in the canister. The amount of force is directly proportional to the mass of water and gas expelled from the canister and how fast it accelerates (second law). The rocket travels upward with a force that is equal and opposite to the downward force propelling the water, gas and lid (third law).
3-2-1 POP! [371KB PDF file]
This activity is part of Adventures in Rocket Science Educator Guide.