Would you like more ‘fizz’ – more energy? We were inspired by a young scientist on a visit, last week, to a Family Science Centre. ‘Live’ demonstrations included making rockets propelled by Vitamin C tablets.

Using a film canister, the scientist added water to the Vitamin C tablet, sealed the canister and then placed it upside down in a waterproof-tray. We waited as the reaction produced enough gas to separate the parts of the canister and launch the ‘rocket’ into the air. The Vitamin C tablet dissolves in the water to produce carbon dioxide, generating fizz and excited pressure. With no way out for the expanding gas, the canister has to pop! Do try this as home, but I would suggest outside!

What he did next inspired me. The scientist wanted to show us how we could get a stronger reaction by adding more energy into the mix. The first way was by adding warmer water – so that the molecules in the water were moving more quickly and thus provoking more reactions in a shorter time frame.  he result was that the rocket went higher and launched more quickly.

Next, he did the same thing but shook the canister vigorously – phooom!

Other ways to up the Fizz-Boom were to break up the tablets to give more surface area, and also to add more tablets. The results were pretty spectacular.

What inspiration arose from this demonstration? Perhaps, it would be fun for you to pause and draw your own message from the experiment before I share my own conclusions.

For me, the message was, “Add multiple tiny adjustments to your routine to produce more fizz, more spark, more effervescence.” If you’ve got low (or no) fizz at the moment, there may be a way to add the equivalent of water to get your fizz starting. And if there’s a way to add water, there may be a way to warm it up a bit.  How could you shake yourself up in a good way? How can you add more Vitamin C tablets, and break them down so that they are more manageable?

Maybe it’s that walk in Nature that gets your fizz fizzing. Would slowing the walk down or speeding it up shift the energy in the right direction for you? Would going alone, or with someone else, or with a pet make it more energetic? Does the time of day make a difference? Would breaking it into two short walks improve the experience – framing your day or breaking up your day? Could you go barefoot for part of it? What about changing the location?

My warm invitation is to experiment with something that does you good – gets you effervescing – and add to it to discover how you could have even better fizz.  Please share what works for you.

Lex

A Moodscope member