salters’ festival teacher activity mini-custard rockets chemistry outreach reactive mass rocket...
DESCRIPTION
Make mini-rocket prepare ejector liquid Set up rocket launcher custardBaby oilTRANSCRIPT
Salters’ Festival teacher activityMini-Custard rockets
H2 + 1/2O2 H2O
Chemistry outreach
Reactive mass rocketThe fuel mixture ignites
releasing energy.
This energy is converted into kinetic energy and
shared between the rocket and ejector fluid.
Mini-rocket goes up
Ejector fluid goes down
Plus lots of energy 286 kJmol-1
Make mini-rocket prepare ejector liquid
Set up rocket launcher
custard Baby oil
O2
H2
Prepare Rocket
Fuel
Transfer Fuel to mini-rocket
Place rocket on pre-prepared launcher
Use the 1 mL syringe to load ejector fluid into the rocket by removing some of the fuel.
Remove any excess ejector fluid from launcher.
Transfer the prepared rocket to launch area.
Adjust the launch angle and connect the ignitor wires.
Check the launch area is clear and
LAUNCH
Potential variables for pupils to exploreLaunch angle Length of mini rocket.Ratio of ejector fluid to fuel
Types of ejector fluid, custard, baby oil, water etc
The assumption that the mixture of gases that produce the loudest noise is the best rocket fuel.
Types of fuel (only suggestions not tested yet)Hydrogen, oxygen.Hydrogen ,air.Methane, oxygen.Methane, air.Ethanol (whoosh bottle)