TE Activity: Aqua-Thrusters!
Contributed by: Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder
Summary |
Engineering Connection |
| Engineers design powerful propellants in order to launch a rocket into space. In order to design the propellant properly and with enough thrust, they must understand the chemical properties of the different propellants. Factors such as weight of propellant must also be considered for flight in space as well as air flight. |
Contents
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| Grade Level: 4 (3-5) | Group Size: 2 |
| Time Required: 50 minutes |
Activity Dependency  :None |
Expendable Cost Per Group
:
US$ .50 |
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| Keywords: fuel, thrust, surface area, chemical reaction, boat, rocket, Newton, energy, motion, antacid, Alka Seltzer® | |
| Reviews: Read Reviews | Be the First to Write a Review | |
Related Curriculum
:
| subject areas | Earth and Space Physical Science Science and Technology |
| curricular units | Rockets |
| lessons | Blast Off |
Pre-Req Knowledge (Return to Contents)
An introduction to thrust, Newton's laws of motion
Learning Objectives (Return to Contents)
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain that thrust can be created by a chemical reaction and what affects it.
- Compare the motion of a model rocket-boat to a rocket designed to travel in space.
- Describe some of the factors that engineers consider when choosing propellants for rocket design.
Materials List (Return to Contents)
Each group needs:
- 1 solid half and 1 crushed half of an antacid tablet (e.g., Alka-Seltzer™. Note: do not use Tums™.)
- 1 film canister. (Note: Film canisters are readily available at no charge from camera shops and stores where film is processed, such as grocery stores, Target, Costco, etc. These businesses recycle the canisters and are often willing to donate them for educational use. Most of the canisters they have will be the solid black ones (see Figure 1, center canister). These are good for this activity. The elliptical-shaped canister is used for Advantix® film (see Figure 1, left canister) work too.
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Figure 1. Film canisters click for copyright |
- 1 stopwatch or a clock with a second hand
- Small piece of construction paper, a strip of heavy tape (such as electrical tape), or a small cutout of dense foam
To share with the entire class:
- Safety glasses (enough pairs for the largest group)
- Large sink, tub or other plastic/glass container that will hold water
Introduction/Motivation (Return to Contents)
Have you ever been in a boat before? How did it move? Did it move using a motor? How about a paddleboat? They move when you paddle the pedals with your legs. Let's think about Maya in her canoe. How does she move? She uses her own energy to move through the water with paddles. If she were on a sailboat, the wind would push her along. Do you think Maya's canoe or any other boat could be powered with a rocket? Yes, it actually can! Rockets burn propellant (a combination of fuel and oxygen) to create enough thrust to get into space. Who can tell me what thrust is? That's right, it is the forward motion of an object as a force pushes away from the object in the opposite direction.
Today, we will make a rocket-powered boat using an antacid tablet and water. The antacid and water will form a chemical reaction and produce a gas, just like the solid propellant on a real rocket would. If we capture this gas and then release it, we can create thrust. Is there any way that we can control how much thrust is generated by a propellant? (Brainstorm ideas with students.)
When propellants burn, an immense amount of pressure is created. This pressure is released through the nozzle or opening of a container. The smaller the nozzle that the chemical reaction pressure is forced through, the more thrust — or forward motion — is created. Think about a garden hose. Have you noticed that if you make the nozzle on the garden hose smaller, then the water comes out in a faster stream? This is the type of stream you use to wash your car versus the more open nozzle and slower stream you may use to water plants.
As Tess' engineering team you must have a good understanding of the chemical reaction occurring in the rocket. You must understand the different factors that affect the thrust, such as the type of propellant, the temperature, the pressure, and whether the propellant makes the rocket move forward in a smooth or choppy motion. With all this dangerous fuel onboard, Tess' engineering team must do a good job designing the thrust system so that everyone is safe and the mission is a success. Engineers need to consider all of these things when choosing a propellant and designing the container in which the propellant will be used. Are you ready to build your rocket-boats? Let's go!
(Note: For the purpose of this activity, rocket-boat and aqua-thruster are used interchangeably.)
Procedure (Return to Contents)
Before the Activity
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Figure 2. An antacid tablet click for copyright |
- Remove antacid tablets from packaging and break them in half.
- Prepare crushed tablets.
- Clean up any white powder that has been spilled, as it may be mistaken for many other illegal or dangerous substances.
- Use a pin to poke a small hole into each film canister lid. The smaller, the better, and as close to the edge as possible without hitting the seal (see Figure 3) is best.
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Figure 3. Canister cap with hole click for copyright |
- Fill the LARGE sink or plastic/glass tub with water.
With the Students
Test 1
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Figure 4. A rocket-boat, or aqua-thruster. click for copyright |
- Each group should be given a film canister and lid with a pinhole already poked into it.
- Have the students make a fin or keel for their aqua-thruster. A small piece of dense foam, folded construction paper, or even tape doubled over on itself and cut to a fin shape can be used. This will help the aqua-thrusters keep their pinhole nozzles in the water, and travel straight (see Figure 4).
- Have each student sketch their aqua-thruster on the Aqua-Thruster Worksheet and predict how long they think the thrust will last.
- Give each group a solid half tablet of antacid. (Note: Antacid tablets should be given out only as needed so that the instructor knows that all tablets are accounted for and used appropriately in the experiment.)
- Have one group at a time fill their canister 3/4 full of water from the sink, drop in a solid half tablet of antacid, snap on the lid, start the stopwatch, and set it in the water. Make sure the pinhole nozzle is under water! Note: Each group that tests should wear safety glasses.
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Figure 5. Aqua-thruster in sink click for copyright |
- The students should stop the stopwatch when the thrust fully ends. Then, they should complete the Aqua Thruster Worksheet under the Test 1 section.
Test 2
- Groups should now repeat the experiment with a crushed half tablet.
- Have each student finish the rest of the Aqua Thruster Worksheet.
Attachments (Return to Contents)
Safety Issues (Return to Contents)
Remind students not to put the antacid tablets (crushed or solid) in their mouths; if a student eats a solid tablet they could become very sick.
Hand out antacid only as necessary; do not give each group a "supply" in advance.
Students should wear safety glasses when testing their aqua-thrusters.
Troubleshooting Tips (Return to Contents)
In order to effectively use half tablets of antacid in both solid and powder form, this method of preparation can be used:
- Use scissors to cut a two-tablet packet down the middle (between the two whole tablets).
- Take both tablets out and break them in half as evenly as possible.
- Place one half of each of the tablets back into its packet.
- Hold the open end shut and use a blunt object to crush the half tablet in the packet. This takes some practice but works well. Repeat for the other tablet. Now you have two crushed half tablets nicely contained in their packets and two solid half tablets!
Assessment (Return to Contents)
Pre-Activity Assessment
Brainstorming: In small groups, have the students engage in open discussion. Remind students that no idea or suggestion is "silly." All ideas should be respectfully heard. Ask the students:
- Is there any way that we can control how much thrust is generated by a propellant?
Prediction: Have students predict the following:
- Will more thrust be generated when a solid tablet or crushed tablet is used?
Activity Embedded Assessment
Worksheet: Have the students record measurements and follow along with the activity on their Aqua Thruster Worksheet. After students have finished their worksheet, have them compare answers with their peers.
Post-Activity Assessment
Question/Answer: Ask the students and discuss as a class:
- Ask the students what is creating the thrust. (Answer: the water being expelled from the hole produces an equal and opposite force forward due to Newton's third law of motion.)
- There was almost no water left in the canisters after the tests. Was the water turned into a gas by the reaction? (Answer: No, the water allowed the solid particles in the antacid to mix and react.)
- Was the water pushed out of the small nozzle by the expanding gas created by the reaction? (Answer: Yes, as the mass of the water was pushed out the nozzle, a force was generated forward on the canister.)
- Ask the students whether propellant with a larger surface area produces more or less thrust than one with less surface area. (Answer: It produces more thrust since more propellant can react more to produce more energy. Compare this to the time it takes to eat a lollipop if you lick it or break it into pieces with your teeth. More surface area by breaking the lollipop into pieces makes the lollipop dissolve faster. The same is true with a solid fuel.)
- Ask the students whether they think more thrust will be generated when a solid tablet is used or when the tablet is crushed. (Answer: The crushed tablet will since it has more surface area.)
- Ask students what state of matter is created when an antacid tablet is combined with water forming a chemical reaction. (Answer: a gas made of carbon dioxide)
Engineering Application: Ask the students to think about their aqua thrusters. Engineers often create prototypes or models of a design before they build the real thing. If the students were engineers who are going to design a life-sized rocket boat for use in a lake or ocean, what types of things would they have to consider for the real design? Have the students come up with a list or discussion of what they would learn more about before building the real thing. (Answers may include: the type of propellant, the temperature, the pressure, safety of the design, whether the propellant makes the boat move forward in a smooth or choppy motion, and the size or conditions in the lake or ocean.)
Re-Design Practice: Have the students list any design or fabrication changes they would make to their rocket-boat on their Aqua Thruster Worksheet to make it work better next time.
Activity Extensions (Return to Contents)
- Have students try canister caps with different sized pinholes to see how that affects the thrust.
- Have students alter their design so they simulate a catamaran using two film canister connected together side-by-side. Have them put half-tablets in each canister and ask them to write a paragraph about what they observed.
- Have students create a mega aqua-thruster. Instead of providing them with a film canister, allow them to use a small water bottle or any other bottle with a screw-on top. See if they can generate thrust with multiple antacid tablets or baking soda and vinegar. Remind students that the weight will become an issue with these larger bottles and more propellant must be used.
Contributors
Jeff White, Brian Argrow, Luke Simmons, Jay Shah, Malinda Schaefer Zarske, Janet YowellCopyright
© 2006 by Regents of the University of ColoradoThe contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0226322. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
Supporting Program (Return to Contents)
Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at BoulderLast Modified: September 26, 2008