A blue balloon attatched to an empty water bottle is inflated by the gases that were created in the bottle.

Ages 9+ | 15-30 mins | Experiment | No Screens | Grown Up Required

Launch a balloon with a (safe) chemical reaction.

Just like an engine of a rocket, in this experiment we'll create thrust with a chemical reaction. 

What You'll Need: 

  • Balloon
  • Small empty drink bottle
  • Small funnel
  • Spoon
  • Baking soda (2 tablespoons)
  • Vinegar (4 ounces)
  • Paper towels or something to wipe up any messes!

1. Go somewhere that can get messy. 

2. Using the funnel, add the baking soda into the balloon.  

  • Two people may be needed for this: one person to hold the balloon open and the other person to pour the baking soda into of the balloon.
  • Hold onto it or set it aside, careful not to let any baking soda spill out.

3. Separately, pour the vinegar into the bottle.

4. Carefully fit the balloon opening over the bottle

  • Be careful not to drop the baking soda into the bottle of vinegar yet.

5. Hold up the rest of the balloon.

  • Do this once the balloon is fitted snugly on the bottle opening.
  • The baking soda should fall into the vinegar.

6. Watch as the vinegar and baking soda meet and react. 

  • This effect is similar to how thrust is generated when fuel and oxygen react to each other in an engine.

7. Blast off!

  • Pinch the nozzle of the balloon to keep in any pressure
  • Then remove it from the bottle and release it.
  • See how far it flies! 
Apollo 11 Launch

What is combustion?

Combustion is simply the process of burning something!

For combustion to happen, you need two things: oxygen and a fuel.

Examples of fuel include logs in a campfire, the gas in a car, or hydrogen for a rocket.

What is an explosion?

Explosions are just combustion reactions that happens really fast and release a ton of energy.  A controlled burst of energy from an explosion is how we power things from cars to rockets.

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Adapted from Soar Together at Air and Space. Soar Together is made possible by the generous support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.