Bombs Away!
Problem: What size soda bottle launches the farthest (on a flat surface) when baking soda and vinegar are mixed inside and used as the fuel?
Research:
Hypothesis: If I mix the SAME AMOUNT OF BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR in both soda bottles, then the 18 fl. oz Soda Bottle will launch the farthest.
Materials
Research:
- A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances may be transformed into one or more new substances. In this chemical reaction, substances lose their characteristic properties.
- Combustion is a chemical process in which a chemical reacts rapidly with oxygen and gives off heat. The source of oxygen is called the oxidizer. During combustion, new substances are created from the fuel and oxidizer, called exhaust.
- Ions are atoms with either positive or negative ions.
- Newton's Third Law of Motion plays a HUGE impact in this experiment because when the gases exerted shoot out of the bottle, an equal and opposite force pushes the bottle forward.
- In this experiment, the acetic acid reacts with the sodium bicarbonate to form carbonic acid, a very unstable compound. This results in the carbonic acid breaking down into carbon dioxide and water.
Hypothesis: If I mix the SAME AMOUNT OF BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR in both soda bottles, then the 18 fl. oz Soda Bottle will launch the farthest.
Materials
- 1 Empty 18 Fl.Oz soda bottle
- 1 Empty 2 Liter soda bottle
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 18 fl oz vinegar
- 1 cork
- something to measure the distance (preferably meter stick)
- 1 tissue roll
Procedure:
- Make the baking soda part of the fuel by placing 1/3 cup of baking soda on a tissue paper. Roll the tissue paper (like a burrito) and twist the ends so that the baking soda doesn't fall out.
- Pour 9 fluid ounces of vinegar into the 18 fluid ounce bottle
- Drop the baking soda (in the tissue paper) into the bottle and put the cork on top. TRY NOT TO SHAKE THE BOTTLE!
- Once you are ready to blast, choose the location (I did it on a track so it was easy to measure), shake the bottle and lay it on it's side. You have to be quick!
- Measure the distance and record the results.
- Repeat steps 1-5 with the 2 liter bottle.
- Repeat experiment two more times.
Data:
Conclusion:
When I added THE SAME AMOUNT OF VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA TO BOTH BOTTLES, the 18 fl.oz bottle went farther than the 2 liter bottle.
The 18 fl. oz bottle went SUBSTANTIALLY farther than the 2 liter bottle as shown in the graph above. On each of the three trials, the 2 liter bottle went 14.56, 12.2, and 15.67 meters averaging out to about 14.143 meters. The 18 fl.oz bottle completely crushed every single one of those distances with a whopping 22.01, 23.87, and 21.36 meters. This averaged out to 22.413 meters. This means that the 18 fl.oz bottle traveled about 8 more meters than the 2 liter bottle.
The main factor to this experiment which I believe DRASTICALLY changed the outcomes was the amount of fuel added. The solution of baking soda and vinegar, as shown in the graph above, just didn't have enough fuel to push the big 2 liter bottle far enough. On the other hand, it almost seemed like the 18 fl.oz bottle had TOO much fuel as it rocketed forward. This resulted in it going the farther distance.
When I added THE SAME AMOUNT OF VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA TO BOTH BOTTLES, the 18 fl.oz bottle went farther than the 2 liter bottle.
The 18 fl. oz bottle went SUBSTANTIALLY farther than the 2 liter bottle as shown in the graph above. On each of the three trials, the 2 liter bottle went 14.56, 12.2, and 15.67 meters averaging out to about 14.143 meters. The 18 fl.oz bottle completely crushed every single one of those distances with a whopping 22.01, 23.87, and 21.36 meters. This averaged out to 22.413 meters. This means that the 18 fl.oz bottle traveled about 8 more meters than the 2 liter bottle.
The main factor to this experiment which I believe DRASTICALLY changed the outcomes was the amount of fuel added. The solution of baking soda and vinegar, as shown in the graph above, just didn't have enough fuel to push the big 2 liter bottle far enough. On the other hand, it almost seemed like the 18 fl.oz bottle had TOO much fuel as it rocketed forward. This resulted in it going the farther distance.
Citations:
- "Chemical Reaction." Fact Monster, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.
- "Combustion." Combustion. NASA, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.
- "Chemistry Review: Chemical Change." Chemistry Review. ACS, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.
- "#8. Positive Ions." Positive Ions. NASA, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.
- "Ions in Acton." NASA, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 13.
- "ThinkQuest : 404." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.