D.I.Y. Projects
Making a simple telescope Vinegar-bicarb rocket
A simple bottle rocket  

Make a Simple Telescope

  1. Get two magnifying glasses (it works best if one is larger than the other) and a sheet of printed paper.

  2. Hold one magnifying glass (the bigger one) between you and the paper. The image of the print will look blurry.

  3. Place the second magnifying glass between your eye and the first magnifying glass.

  4. Move the second glass forward or backward until the print comes into sharp focus. You will notice that the print appears larger and upside down.

3-2-1 Pop; Making a vinegar-bicarb Rocket

Materials:

  • 2x pieces of paper

  • 1x film canister

  • Sticky tape

  • Vinegar

  • Baking powder

  • Water

Making The Rocket

  1. Wrap and tape a tube of paper around the film canister making sure that the lid of the canister faces DOWN.

  2. Make fins and tape them to your rocket.

  3. Roll a cone of paper and tape it to the upper end of the rocket

Mixing The ‘Fuel?/p>

  1. Measure out a chosen quantity of the baking powder.

  2. Add small bits of water and mix until it makes a sort of sticky mixture.

  3. Fill the lid of the film canister with this mixture.

  4. While the lid is off your rocket turn the rocket upside down so that the nose cone is facing the ground and fill the canister with the vinegar.

  5. Clear an outside area.

  6. Put on eye protection e.g. Science goggles (or equivalent eye protection).

  7. Attach lid to canister.

  8. Shake carefully.

  9. Place on ground.

  10. Move away and WATCH IT GO!

Note: The more ingredients does not necessarily mean the most power.  Do not aim the rocket at people.

A Simple Bottle Rocket

Materials:

  • A large plastic bottle with cap

  • Scissors

  • 2 straws (about 10 cm long)

  • Sticky tape

  • Plasticine

1. Using the point of the scissors, pierce a small hole in the centre of the cap and screw it firmly onto a bottle.
2. Slit one of the straws in half lengthways. Role it up tightly and tape down the seam to seal it. You now have a much thinner straw.
3. Slide two centimetres of the straw through the hole in the cap and seal around the hole with plasticine.
4. Seal the top of the second straw with plasticine and slide it over the thinner straw.
5. Aim safely, and squeeze the bottle hard.
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