Mentos Goes Boom!!! Science Fair Project Experiment
Topic
Mentos Goes Boom!
Problem Statement
Does the type of Mentos candy affect explosion height?
Hypothesis
I think that the different types of Mentos will affect the height of the explosion.
Materials
~1 roll of fruit Mentos
~1 roll of mint Mentos
~2 index cards
~1 liter of Coca Cola
~1 liter of Sprite
~1 liter of Pepsi
Procedure
1. Make a Mentos cartridge to hold the candies.
2. Tape the cartridge together on the side.
3. Place a Diet Coke bottle in an outdoor area. (Make sure it’s on a leveled surface).
4. Carefully remove the cap from the bottle.
5. Place the flat index card on top, covering the hole.
6. Add four whole Mentos candies to your cartridge.
7. Place your full cartridge on top of the flat index card. (Line up where the opening of the bottle is with the opening of your cartridge).
8. Quickly pull out the flat index card.
9. Record quickly after step 8.
Background Information:
I. Why this topic?
a. I chose this project because I wanted to know how different kinds of Mentos would react to different kinds of sodas. I learned that carbon dioxide gas, (CO2), is added to the soda through a high pressure process that causes the gas to dissolve into the liquid. This gas remains calm until “you unleash the beast!”
II. All about the Soda!
a. Soda contain sweeteners like sugar and other sweet additives.
b. Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is added to the soda through a high pressure process that causes the gas to dissolve into the liquid.
c. When a soda is opened you hear a sound as the pressure is relieved.
III. When the Mentos meet the soda!
a. When a Mentos are dropped into the soda, the gum Arabic in the Mentos weaken the attraction of the water molecules around the CO2 gas bubbles.
b. As soon as the Mentos hit the soda, the carbon dioxide forms more bubbles in the tiny pores that are all over the Mentos surface.
c. Couple this with the speed at which the Mentos are sinking to the bottom of the bottle and an eruptive blast occurs as the CO2 is released and breaks free taking much of the liquid with it.