Hey there! Have you ever wondered how rockets fly into space? Well, today, we’re going to learn how to make a small model rocket and understand how real rockets work!
First, let’s talk about a straw rocket. It’s a tiny model of a big rocket. Even though it’s small, it works in a similar way to real rockets. Real rockets lift off by shooting hot gases out of their bottom, which pushes them up into the sky. Our straw rocket uses air instead of hot gases to fly.
To make a straw rocket, you need some paper, a pencil, and a straw. Wrap the paper around the pencil to make a tube, tape it closed, and then remove the pencil. Now, put a straw inside the paper tube. When you blow air into the straw, the rocket will launch!
At first, my straw rocket was just a tube, and it didn’t fly very well. So, I added paper fins, like the ones on real rockets, and it flew much better! But I wanted it to go even higher. What could we do to make it fly farther? Squeaks, my friend, suggested getting more air into it. Great idea!
We decided to build a stomp rocket using a PVC pipe, strong tape, and an empty plastic 2-liter bottle. You can make one too, with the help of a grown-up! First, roll construction paper into a tube that fits over the PVC pipe and tape it. Add paper fins and a cone to make it look like a real rocket.
To launch the stomp rocket, we stomp on the 2-liter bottle, which pushes air through the pipe and launches the rocket into the sky. It’s important to make sure no air leaks out, so tape any places where air might escape. This will help the rocket fly higher!
You can build your own model rocket too! Ask a grown-up to help you gather materials and build your rocket. Can you make a super-fast straw rocket or a stomp rocket that flies as high as a house? What ideas do you have to improve the rocket designs?
Good luck, and have fun experimenting with your rockets!
Thanks to KiwiCo for supporting this episode of SciShow Kids! KiwiCo creates fun, hands-on projects for kids that make learning exciting. They offer subscription boxes for kids of all ages to help build creativity and confidence. Grown-ups can visit kiwico.com/scishowkids50 to get 50% off the first month of any crate. See you next time!
Experiment with Different Materials: Try making straw rockets using different types of paper, like construction paper, newspaper, or even wrapping paper. Which material makes the rocket fly the farthest? Why do you think that is? Discuss with your friends or family what you observe and why some materials might work better than others.
Design Your Own Rocket: Use your imagination to design a unique rocket. Draw your design on paper first. Think about the shape, colors, and any special features it might have. Then, build your rocket using materials you have at home. Test it out and see how well it flies. Can you make changes to improve its flight?
Observe and Record: Launch your straw rocket several times and measure how far it travels each time. Use a tape measure or count steps to find the distance. Record your results in a notebook. Can you find a way to make your rocket fly farther each time? What changes did you make, and how did they affect the flight?
