SEND A MESSAGE
Keep in touch with those left looking after the boat, develop a rocket launcher to send messages flying across the sea using newspaper and elastic bands.
What you need:
- Newspaper - approx A4 size (a 'compact' newspaper page, folded in half to double up the thickness, works well)
- Elastic bands
- Sellotape
- Scissors
What to do:
Follow the diagrams. To fire, hook the elastic band underneath the arrow-head, pull forward and release. Watch your newspaper rocket fly. There is a technique for good launching - practice makes perfect!
Exploring the science:
How far can you send your rocket? You will need to experiment with different angles of fire, different sizes of elastic band and different rocket dimensions.
How does it work? - you use your energy to stretch the elastic band, this energy is stored in the stretched band until release when the stored energy is converted into kinetic energy and the rocket flies through the air.
Remember:
- SAFETY:fire away from people and make sure that you always cut off the tip of the rockets just in case…
- To recycle your newspaper!
- Charles Robert Darwin was born on February 12th 1809
- Darwin's mother died when he was eight years old
- Darwin married Emma Wedgwood (1839) and fathered 10 children
- Darwin died April 19th 1882 and is buried in Westminster Abbey