Dry Ice Film Canister Rocket

A film canister filled with water, food coloring, and a piece of dry ice builds up pressure as the solid carbon dioxide sublimates, launching the canister into the air and creating colorful splatter art.

1. Put on safety glasses and thick gloves for handling dry ice.
2. Place a sheet of white poster board outdoors to catch the splatter pattern.
3. Add 1–2 drops of food coloring to each film canister and fill halfway with water.
4. Break a small piece of dry ice and carefully drop it into one canister.
5. Quickly snap on the lid, turn the canister upside down, and set it on the poster board.
6. Step back and watch the rocket launch into the air.
7. Repeat with different colors to create a rainbow pattern of splatters.

Dry Ice & Film Canister - Dumbo:

📄 Dry Ice Rocket - The Science Kiddo: https://sciencekiddo.com/film-canister-rocket-with-dry-ice/

• Try different amounts of dry ice to compare launch times and heights.
• Use hot water versus cold water to test sublimation speed.
• Arrange canisters in different patterns to create unique splatter art.

• Always wear safety glasses.
• Handle dry ice only with thick gloves or tongs to prevent frostbite.
• Conduct outdoors in an open area to avoid injury or mess.
• Stand back immediately after sealing the canister, as launch is unpredictable.
• Do not use sealed containers that cannot safely release pressure.

• What happens to dry ice as it turns into gas? (It sublimates, changing directly from solid to gas.)
• Why does the pressure build inside the film canister? (Gas from sublimation is trapped, pushing against the lid until it pops off.)
• How does water temperature affect the speed of the launch? (Hot water speeds sublimation and makes launches quicker, while cold water slows the process.)
• Why is a film canister a good choice for this experiment? (Its lid seals tightly but can still pop off safely under pressure.)