Last year, Grandma gave the boys a couple of rocket kits. The kits come with a bottle, some foil tape, cardstock for fins, a nose cone and a tube that is used for a Venturi. We had a good time building the rockets together. I think the fact that we built the rockets ourselves has made launching them even more fun. It also makes the frequent repairs easier to deal with.
The rockets use baking soda and vinegar for fuel. We found that about 3/4 cup of vinegar and 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda create the maximum thrust for our rockets. We've been able to launch them about 150 feet in the air.
Part of what makes these rockets fun to launch is the fact that you don't know exactly when they are going to take off. The reaction of the baking soda and vinegar causes the pressure inside of the bottle to increase rapidly. There is a small plug at the bottom of the Venturi that releases when enough pressure builds up inside of the bottle. Of course, the boys have a great time trying to time their countdowns just right.
I think we should institute baking soda and vinegar powered rocket launching as a companion activity to the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.
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