Explosive Science

EXPLOSIVE SCIENCE

Pop on a lab coat, mix up some fizzing reactions and count down to launch. Science has never been so loud.

What is explosive science?

Explosive science is hands-on chemistry and physics that goes with a whoosh, a fizz or a pop. Using simple, everyday ingredients, children and grown-ups mix up reactions that make gas, build pressure and send foam, water or homemade rockets flying. It's a brilliant way to discover how chemical reactions and forces work, with plenty of gasps along the way.

What's the difference between an eruption and an explosion?

Both are about pressure. In an eruption, pressure builds up and pushes material out through an opening, like lava from a volcano or foam from a bottle. In an explosion, energy and gas are released very suddenly, in all directions at once, often with a bang. A fizzing volcano model erupts. A lid flying off a pressurised tube is much closer to a tiny explosion.

What are some classic explosive science experiments?

The baking soda volcano is the classic. Mix bicarbonate of soda with vinegar and the reaction makes carbon dioxide gas, which foams up and over the top.

A fizzy drink fountain uses mints dropped into a bottle of fizzy drink. Their rough surface releases the gas all at once, sending a jet of foam into the air.

Elephant's toothpaste mixes hydrogen peroxide, washing-up liquid and yeast to make a huge, warm column of foam. The yeast speeds up the reaction.

Fizz rockets use a fizzy tablet and a little water sealed in a small tube. Gas builds up until the lid pops off and the rocket shoots upwards.

How do rockets work?

Every rocket works by pushing something out of one end so it moves the other way. A space rocket blasts out hot gas. A water or air rocket pushes out water or air under pressure. It's all down to one of Isaac Newton's laws of motion: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Build more pressure and keep your rocket light, and it can fly higher.

Is explosive science good for kids?

It's hard to beat for sparking curiosity. Children get to predict, test and see what happens, which is exactly how real scientists work. Lab coats and goggles make everyone feel the part, and the results are instant, loud and memorable. It also shows that science isn't just something in a textbook. It's something you can see, hear and occasionally get splashed by.

FAQ

DO WE NEED ANY EXPERIENCE?

Not at all. Your Activity Leader explains each experiment and shows you how to do it.

IS EXPLOSIVE SCIENCE SAFE?

It's run with care, but reactions can splash, foam and fly. Wear safety goggles when asked, and follow the Activity Leader's instructions. Do not taste, sniff or touch the ingredients unless you're told it's okay, and do not stand over a rocket or bottle when it's about to launch. Wash your hands afterwards.