How to Build Your Own Rocket Engines

Making a vinegar and baking soda rocket engine can be done safely.

A rocket engine follows the basic principle that every action causes an equal reaction - in this case, escaping gas from the rocket engine pushing it in the other direction. You can make a rocket engine from a few household items and some common products from a grocery store. Your rocket engine will generate gas to propel any "spaceship" that you attach to it, if only briefly. The gases generated by your rocket engine are not harmful but adult supervision is required if you are underage since improper handling of the rocket engine's components can make a mess.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Funnel
• Paper towel
• Ruler
• 6 ounce empty water bottle
• Cork
• Spaceship toy
• Duct tape
• Wood blocks

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of newspaper on a table. Place a square of paper towel on the newspaper.

2. Sprinkle a one-inch high pile of baking soda in the center of the paper towel.

3. Fold the upper left corner of the paper towel over to the lower right corner. Fold the lower left corner of the paper towel over to the upper right corner to form a pouch.

4. Stand the water bottle on the newspaper. Remove the cap from the water bottle. Place the tip of the funnel into the open mouth of the water bottle.

5. Pour white vinegar into the funnel. Stop pouring when the water bottle is halfway filled.

6. Insert the pouch into the open mouth of the water bottle. Leave a piece of the pouch sticking out from the open mouth.

7. Insert a cork into the open mouth of the water bottle. Wedge the cork into the open mouth so that it keeps the paper towel pouch from falling into the water bottle.

8. Tape your spaceship toy to the bottom of the water bottle with duct tape.

9. Go outside in your backyard. Place the two wood blocks across from each other on the ground with an inch between them.

10. Turn the water bottle, now a rocket engine, upside down. Place the cork between the two wood blocks so that the spaceship toy is facing up.

11. Wait, as the gas generates in your rocket engine, blows out the cork and propels your spaceship into the sky.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear protective eye gear when firing off your rocket engine.

• Do not use your rocket engine in a public place or wherever people are congregating.

References

• YouTube: How To Make A Vinegar And Baking Soda Rocket

Resources

• studyworld: History Of Rockets