- Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion states for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. You can reword this law to say for every force, there is an equal and opposite force. Think about how Newton's Third Law applies to a rocket in space as burning fuel is ejected. The force that propels the rocket is called thrust. Write a short paper explaining the importance of Newton's Third Law to rocket travel.
- Conduct an experiment using a balloon rocket to investigate Newton's Third Law and some of the factors affecting rocket design. Thread a 4-inch plastic straw onto 6 feet of string and tie the string tightly between two chairs. Blow up a round balloon, twist the end and secure it with a spring clothespin. Tape the balloon to the straw. Time how long it takes the balloon to travel from one end of the string to the other when you take off the clothespin. Change the balloon shape, balloon size and type of string to see if they affect the speed.
- With the exception of using different fuel, real rockets work the same basic way as a bubble, pop or "Alka-Seltzer" rocket made from a film canister with a lid that fits inside. Fill the canister 1/3 full of water, add 1/2 of an antacid tablet, close the lid, place it lid side down and step back. The fizzing of the antacid tablet causes gas bubbles to rise inside the inverted canister. The bubbles break open, releasing gas that exerts pressure against the sides of the canister. With nowhere else to go, the gas forces the lid off the canister, pushing the rocket in the opposite direction.
- Visit a hobby shop with a parent to purchase a model rocket to build and launch. Choose from Skill Level 1 or Easy-to-Assemble models if you do not have any experience with model rocketry. The launch site should be away from trees, people and utility wires. Some communities maintain fields exclusively for model rockets and airplanes. Consider joining a model rocket club. Observe safety rules when lighting and launching the rockets.
- Find information about the space shuttles' solid rocket boosters and how solid propellants work. NASA conducted research into using candle wax (paraffin) as an eco-friendly rocket fuel by making it burn three times faster than normal. Ion propulsion is another eco-friendly fuel. Xenon gas is electrically charged (ionized) and accelerated to 30 kilometers per second. The high downward speed of the emission of xenon ions forces the rocket in the opposite direction (up).
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