Rockets

Looking for some inspiration with rockets. Try this Straw Rocket or look at the Rockets PriSci Pin-Up published in 2019, which is available on the STAWA website.

These simple rockets are launched by blowing into the straw, making them suitable for young children.

What you need: • straws • A4 paper • coloured markers • sticky tape • scissors

What you do: 1. Fold and cut an A4 piece of paper in quarter pieces. Each child receives a quarter strip to make their straw rocket. 2. Fold the quarter strip in half lengthways. 3. Tape the open edge, leaving 1cm free at one end (the bottom of the rocket). 4. Fold the top of the rocket into a point and tape. 5. Snip the bottom of the rocket into strips. 6. Decorate the rocket with the coloured markers. 7. Slide a straw into the untapped end of the rocket. 8.

Christine Howitt

Point the rocket away from people and blow into the straw to make it launch.

Further investigations: 1. How can you make the rocket travel further? What happens to the distance the rocket flies if the length of the rocket is changed? 2. What happens to the distance the rocket flies if the width of the straw is changed? 3. When doing these investigations remember to only change one variable at a time. So either change the length of the rocket or the width of the straw, not both at the same time.

Why does this happen? As you blow, the air is forced through the straw and pushes against the paper rocket. This force causes the rocket to fly through the air.