Build And Launch A Mini-Rocket

Combine simple household items to make a rocket propulsion system.

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MATERIALS
Paper
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Alka-Seltzer tablets
Water
Empty film canister

STEP 1
Design your rocket, drawing it on paper. A simple cylinder, nose cone, and a pair of fins will suffice. It should stand around 6 inches (15 cm) tall and be approximately 1½ inches (3.75 cm) in diameter.

STEP 2
Cut out your rocket components (cylinder, nose cone, and fins) and glue them together.

STEP 3
Open the film canister and drop one-half of an Alka-Seltzer tablet into it.

STEP 4
Fill the canister half full of water and snap the canister cap into place. Slide the rocket over the cap, place the assembly cap-down, and get back. Watch the rocket blast off.

This project was excerpted from The Big Book Of Hacks: 264 Amazing DIY Tech Projects, a compendium of ingenious and hilarious projects for aspiring makers. Buy it here. And for more amazing hacks, go here.

 
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