🧪 Science with Sarah: Soda bottle rockets! 🥤 “Lift-off” with this fun, chemistry-driven science experiment!
Hello parents, teachers and students! If you’re looking for a fun way to explore literal rocket science, this experiment is for you.
Be sure to check out GMSA@9 on Wednesdays when Meteorologist Sarah Spivey does the demonstrations and explains the science behind it.
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Materials for a soda bottle rocket (Copyright KSAT 2023 - All rights reserved) A 16 oz plastic soda or water bottle
3 pencils
Gaffer’s or duct tape
Kleenex
Vinegar
Baking soda
A wine cork
DO THE EXPERIMENT STEP 1 : Tape the 3 pencils evenly around the bottle. These will act as a stand for your rocket. It should look like this ⬇️
This is what your rocket should look like with the pencils attached (Copyright KSAT 2023 - All rights reserved) STEP 2: Put about 2 inches of vinegar into the bottle
STEP 3: Make a small parcel of baking soda with a piece of Kleenex
STEP 4: Quickly pop the small parcel of baking soda into the bottle, cork it, and place it on the ground
STEP 5: Step back and watch the rocket take off!
SCIENCE WITH SARAH If you’d like Sarah to come to your school and conduct a science experiment live on KSAT, fill out this form . “Winners” are selected at random.
Copyright 2025 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
About the Authors Sarah Spivey headshot
Sarah Spivey is a San Antonio native who grew up watching KSAT. She has been a proud member of the KSAT Weather Authority Team since 2017.
Sarah is a Clark High School and Texas A&M University graduate. She previously worked at KTEN News.
When Sarah is not busy forecasting, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, and playing music.
Robert Samarron headshot
🏙️ If you're getting a drone for Christmas, make sure you know exactly where you're allowed to fly ▶ 1:28
🏙️ If you're getting a drone for Christmas, make sure you know exactly where you're allowed to fly
What parents can do to help children stay safe online ▶ 0:56
What parents can do to help children stay safe online
Any dog can be ‘dangerous’ 🐾 ▶ 0:57
Any dog can be ‘dangerous’ 🐾
What to know about holiday travel as AAA projects new record ▶ 0:53
What to know about holiday travel as AAA projects new record
Steele High School student conductor reimagines 'Joy to the World' ▶ 1:51
Steele High School student conductor reimagines 'Joy to the World'
Service members traveling through San Antonio International for the holidays ▶ 1:08
Service members traveling through San Antonio International for the holidays
Salvation Army helps thousands of San Antonio children through Angel Tree program ▶ 0:56
Salvation Army helps thousands of San Antonio children through Angel Tree program
Scams targeting San Antonio seniors on the rise, SAPD says ▶ 0:50
Scams targeting San Antonio seniors on the rise, SAPD says
West Side neighbors rally to replace stolen Christmas tree ▶ 1:52
West Side neighbors rally to replace stolen Christmas tree
Outgoing North East ISD superintendent discusses timing of departure, district’s challenges ahead ▶ 1:14
Outgoing North East ISD superintendent discusses timing of departure, district’s challenges ahead
Atascosa County Sheriff's Office vehicle struck during traffic stop ▶ 0:20
Atascosa County Sheriff's Office vehicle struck during traffic stop
H-E-B, Meals on Wheels preparing for 33rd annual Feast of Sharing this weekend ▶ 1:00
H-E-B, Meals on Wheels preparing for 33rd annual Feast of Sharing this weekend
Habitat for Humanity Kerr County faces delays to repair 12 homes by year’s end ▶ 1:16
Habitat for Humanity Kerr County faces delays to repair 12 homes by year’s end
San Antonio man has reunited more than 200 people with lost class rings nationwide ▶ 1:18
San Antonio man has reunited more than 200 people with lost class rings nationwide
Local businesses launch donation drive for South Side family after fatal crash ▶ 0:45
Local businesses launch donation drive for South Side family after fatal crash
Hill Country camps add flood-warning towers months after deadly July 4 floods ▶ 1:14
Hill Country camps add flood-warning towers months after deadly July 4 floods
Suspected thief stole more than $200K in jewelry from San Antonio businesses, police say ▶ 0:50
Suspected thief stole more than $200K in jewelry from San Antonio businesses, police say
BCSO: Woman scammed out of $36K by caller who instructed her to deposit funds into Bitcoin ATM ▶ 1:55
BCSO: Woman scammed out of $36K by caller who instructed her to deposit funds into Bitcoin ATM
Trinity University, SwRI developing nasal spray treatment to combat PTSD ▶ 0:20
Trinity University, SwRI developing nasal spray treatment to combat PTSD
Credit card skimmers discovered at Circle K near Stone Oak, Hollywood Park police chief says ▶ 1:46
Credit card skimmers discovered at Circle K near Stone Oak, Hollywood Park police chief says
🦍 Congo Falls gorilla exhibit at San Antonio Zoo to open this weekend ▶ 1:47
🦍 Congo Falls gorilla exhibit at San Antonio Zoo to open this weekend
Check out these space heater safety tips ▶ 1:22
Check out these space heater safety tips
Meet the candidates for the Texas Senate race. ▶ 0:50
Meet the candidates for the Texas Senate race.
Prepare to pay a $45 fee to fly if you don't have a Real ID ▶ 0:35
Prepare to pay a $45 fee to fly if you don't have a Real ID
Experience San Antonio’s newest drive-thru Christmas light display “The Light Park” at Wolff Stadium ▶ 1:04
Experience San Antonio’s newest drive-thru Christmas light display “The Light Park” at Wolff Stadium
Previous photo Next photo