Flying Straw Rocket Experiment

Needed: A 1 or 2 liter soda bottle(with no cap), a handful of clay, 2 straws(one should be able to go through the other), and some decorations(optional)

Step One: First put a pinch of clay on one end of the bigger straw. Make sure no air can come out by blowing from the other end of the straw.

Step Two: Take a little bit of clay in one hand and the smaller straw in the other. insert the straw half way in the bottle and use the clay to hold it in place. Be sure to surround the entire straw and the top of the bottle so no air can come out except from the straw

Step Three: Insert the slightly bigger straw into the smaller one.

Step Four(optional): Decorate you "rocket" with colorful streamers, Pom-Poms, etc.

Step Five: Now go to an open area and give the bottle a quick squeeze. What happened? Did the bigger straw fly up? If so, how high did it fly? Why do you think it flew?

Why it works: When you squeeze the bottle, the air in it is being pushed out the the straw(the only opening). When it is going out it looks for a way out but can't find any, so the air pushes the big straw out and up. It is important that there is not a gap between the straws because if there is, then the air will just escape through there, hence not propelling the straw.

Fast Fact: You can use a similar method for a water pressure propelled "rocket"