Bottle Rocket

Students launch their own rocket using a water bottle, vinegar, baking soda and a few pencils. They predict what could push the bottle upward, build a three-legged launch stand, and watch a chemical reaction create the pressure that sends it flying. Along the way, they discover that an acid and a base make carbon dioxide gas, and that gas pushing down makes the bottle go up. It's Newton's Third Law in action, and a hands-on lesson in chemical reactions, forces and engineering design.