Today I have another great baking soda and vinegar activity for you. We are going to make a baking soda powered boat.
Materials
- Empty water bottle – small
- Baking Soda
- Kitchen roll or tissue
- Scissors
- Straw
- Vinegar
- Tape
- Bath or large container
- Water
Method
- Pierce a hole in the non lid end of the water bottle and poke the straw through, I trimmed mine so only used about one third of the length. Tape around the gap to prevent air escaping and keep the straw in place.
- Carefully pour some vinegar into the bottle and replace the lid.
- Pour some baking soda onto a small piece of kitchen roll and roll it up.
- Stand over your water, stuff the tissue wrapped baking soda into the bottle and quickly add the lid.
- Place in the water and watch it go.
Can you see the bubbles coming out of the end?
The Science bit
Vinegar (an acid ) and bicarbonate of soda ( an alkali ) react together to neutralise each other. This reaction releases carbon dioxide a gas which is the bubbles you see.
The force of the movement of the carbon dioxide backwards causes a reaction force which pushes the boat forwards.
Can you think of any other forces which might affect the movement of the boat? How about wind? Or movement of the water if it was disturbed as the boat was placed onto it.
For lots more Baking Soda science ideas, check out our round up and Challenge.
Related posts
Fizzing rocks with baking soda
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Last Updated on April 5, 2016 by Emma Vanstone
How fun! I am certainly pinning this idea!
Thank you. xx
I am doing this experiment in 6th grade
This looks like fun! I’ll give it a go and tell you how we got on :0)
ooooh please do. x
This experiment is fun!
Thank You for the idea \. I am totally going to do it.
Awesome! Glad it worked out like you planned. 🙂
Thanks Trisha. xx
Hi, Found your idea on pinerest! We are going to feature it on our blog in a round up of vinegar and baking soda science! – pop over and see it later this week! My boys will love this during the summer months!
http://imhereshesthere.wordpress.com/
What do you mean by “kitchen roll?”