Spinning Rocket Experiment
Newton’s third law states that every action has equal and opposite reaction. That is, if you apply a force say X newtons on an object, the object will also theoretically apply X newtons of force on you. This law is also known as the action-reaction law. We will put this law to test in this experiment and check its validity.
Problem:
- To verify Newton’s Third Law by using a balloon, pencil and drawing pin.
Materials:
- Pencil with a rubber on the end
- Drawing pin
- Drinking straw
- Sticky tape
Procedure:
Insert the long end of the straw into the balloon and tape it in place. Now push the drawing pin through any part of the long end of the straw to attach it to the pencil’s rubber and bend the short end.
Blow the balloon from the other side of the straw, hold the air in it and then release. The air will start escaping from the straw providing it energy and thus the straw begins to rotate. As the straw pushes on the air to force it round the corner, the air pushes back on the straw; making it move.
This demonstrates the action-reaction law. Also try changing the position of the drawing pin and the angle of the short end to make it spin faster.
