Turning Water into Rocket Fuel

Overview

Project Title: Turning Water into Rocket Fuel Author: Rhett Wyrick Abstract Hydrogen is an important clean energy fuel that can be produced from water using electricity through a process called electrolysis. The goal of this experiment was to design a simple electrolysis system and investigate how different voltage levels affect the rate of hydrogen gas production. The research question was: How does increasing voltage influence the amount of hydrogen gas produced during electrolysis? An electrolysis apparatus was constructed using a sealed container filled with water mixed with baking soda to increase electrical conductivity. Stainless steel whisks packed with stainless steel scouring pads were used as electrodes to increase the surface area available for electrolysis reactions. Plastic tubing carried hydrogen gas produced during electrolysis into a graduated cylinder, where gas volume was measured using the water displacement method. Hydrogen production was measured for one minute at six voltage levels: 5 V, 10 V, 15 V, 20 V, 25 V, and 30 V. No measurable hydrogen was produced at 5 V. As voltage increased, hydrogen production increased steadily. Measured volumes were 9 mL/min at 10 V, 16 mL/min at 15 V, 29 mL/min at 20 V, 44 mL/min at 25 V, and 55 mL/min at 30 V. At the highest voltage tested, hydrogen was produced at approximately 0.92 mL per second. These results show a clear relationship between applied voltage and hydrogen production rate. Increasing electrical input increased the rate of electrolysis, demonstrating how electrical energy can be converted into hydrogen fuel.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Alternative Energy (Junior Division) · Entry J-01-01

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