Take the top off the film canister and pack the lid tightly with baking soda. Pour about two teaspoons of vinegar into the film canister. Turn the canister upside-down, put it on the ground, and stand back. After a few seconds, the canister will shoot up into the air. If your rocket always fizzles, try a film canister with a tighter-fitting lid.
Pressure builds up until the small canister can no longer contain the gas.
The lid pops off, the canister shoots up into the air, the gas escapes, and the pressure is released. This page was last updated Aug 2, 1999.