demonstrations:dry_ice_film_canister_rocket
Dry Ice Film Canister Rocket
Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely
Categories: Dry Ice
Alternative titles: Dry Ice Rocket Rainbow
Summary
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.
Procedure
- Put on safety glasses and thick gloves for handling dry ice.
- Place a sheet of white poster board outdoors to catch the splatter pattern.
- Add 1–2 drops of food coloring to each film canister and fill halfway with water.
- Break a small piece of dry ice and carefully drop it into one canister.
- Quickly snap on the lid, turn the canister upside down, and set it on the poster board.
- Step back and watch the rocket launch into the air.
- Repeat with different colors to create a rainbow pattern of splatters.
Links
Dry Ice & Film Canister - Dumbo:
📄 Dry Ice Rocket - The Science Kiddo: https://sciencekiddo.com/film-canister-rocket-with-dry-ice/
Variations
- 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.
Safety Precautions
- 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.
Questions to Consider
- 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.)