Blast Off!
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WGBH
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Students design and create their own air-powered rockets, in this hands-on activity. Learners will develop a better understanding of physics related concepts, specifically those related to momentum, velocity and potential and kinetic energy. Students will also have the opportunity to brainstorm other rocket designs, which exhibit their understanding of these concepts and allows them to get creative with their own unique designs and ideas.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 30 to 45 minutes
- $1 - $5 per student
- Ages 6 - 11
- Activity, Model
- English, Spanish
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- empty 20 oz. plastic bottle
- thin straw
- wide straw (that fits over the thin straw)
- clay or poster putty
- tape
- scissors
- construction paper (optional)
- string (optional)
- paper streamers (optional)
Subjects
- Engineering and Technology
- Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Engineering
- Physical Sciences
- Energy
- Potential and Kinetic Energy
- Energy and Power
- Motion and Forces
- Momentum and Velocity
- Projectile Motion
- Newton's Laws
- Rotation Motion
- Energy
- The Nature of Technology
- The Design Process
- Invention and Innovation
- Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
- The Design Process
Informal Categories
- Model Building
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Foreign language versions of this resource:
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- WGBH
Source Collection:
- FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman
Rights:
- WGBH Educational Foundation, 2010
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation, 0840307
- Public television viewers
- Chuck E. Cheese's
