How to Build and Launch a Mentos / Diet Cola Rocket Chicago River Walk
Along the Chicago River, we demonstrate and launch a rocket using Mentos and a 2 liter bottle of diet Pepsi.
Parts List:
1) 2 liter bottle of diet cola. (It needs to be diet because the aspartame in the diet cola aids in the chemical reaction.
2) 3 plain Mentos
3) A roll of scotch tape.
Rocket Building Instructions:
Take out about 9 inches of tape. Place the tape on a table sticky side up. Place exactly 3 mentos on one end of the tape. (Don't use more Mentos it will mess up the reaction.) Fold the tape over the mentos. This leaves a tail end that will be attached to the inside of the bottle cap. Open your 2 liter cola. Dry the inside of the bottle cap. Tape the tail end of the tape to the inside of the bottle cap. Caution: You will now lower the mentos into the cola. You need to be quick here! (As soon as the mentos are lowered into the liquid, the reaction will begin). Tightly fasten the bottle cap. Wait a couple of minutes.
Rocket launch Instructions:
I have found that best launches are from throwing the bottle in a high arc over pavement. So toss the bottle in a high arc and watch the launch!