Hydrogen Rocket Instructions
Hydrogen fuel cells offer a lot of power because hydrogen doesn't like to be pressurized or contained. Since it's so light, hydrogen is constantly trying to expand and push outward. When pressed into a small space, this pressure builds until the hydrogen finds a way to escape. You can demonstrate this with a hydrogen rocket experiment. If your students or children are 17 or older, they may help with the experiment. Children 16 and younger should only observe.
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Things You'll Need
- Empty 20 oz. soda bottle
- Utility knife
- Balloon
- Clear flexible tubing
- Small plastic bucket
- Hydrogen gas tank
Instructions
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1
Cut off the bottom of your soda bottle. Rinse it out and remove as much of the label as you can. Leave the cap in place to make the "rocket" more aerodynamic.
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2
Fit a balloon over a length of clear, flexible plastic tubing. Slip the balloon inside the bottom of the soda bottle.
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3
Place the soda bottle-balloon assembly upright on a plastic bucket. The bottle will tilt slightly to the side; this is what you want. The bottle must tilt away from you and any observers.
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4
Fit the open end of the plastic tubing over the nozzle of a hydrogen tank. Turn the tank on, filling the balloon with hydrogen until it fits very tightly inside the bottle.
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5
Turn off the tank and bend the tubing so there's an airtight kink in it. Gently work the tubing off of the tank and quickly put your thumb over the tube.
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Instruct everyone to cover their ears. Drop the tube so the kink comes out and the opening is uncovered. The hydrogen will explode out of the balloon, carrying the bottle, balloon, and tube forward. Cover your ears as soon as you let go of the tube.
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Tips & Warnings
Never perform this experiment indoors. Perform it outdoors in an open field only, checking that the area is free of pets, children and passersby.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
