Homemade Sugar Rocket By William Gurstelle Category: Science Difficulty: Easy View Comments Email M35_SS_SugarRocket_Opener Many hobby stores sell model rocketry supplies, but I think making your own rocket engine from scratch is a more meaningful and exciting experience. In this project, we’ll build on the work of rocket pioneer Jack Parsons (see MAKE Volume 13, “Darkside Rocketeer,” for more about this fascinating character). It was Parsons who invented “castable” rocket fuel, which starts as a soft, pliable material and slowly hardens, allowing it to be cast or molded into a high-performance motor. M35_Rocket-cutaway In this project, you’ll combine two commonly available substances — granulated sugar and potassium nitrate — to make a powerful engine that can propel a small rocket to impressive heights. This method involves melting a mixture of sugary fuel and chemical oxidizer (the potassium nitrate) over an electric hot plate and then pouring it into a paper rocket body where it solidifies into a rock-hard casting containing an incredible amount of chemical energy. caution-warning-danger-graphicCAUTION: Undertake this project at your own risk. You are literally playing with fire, so understand what you’re getting into and don’t sell the dangerous aspects of this activity short. Sugar rocket fuel burns fiercely — do not ignite it until it’s contained in a completed motor. Follow all instructions and safety precautions carefully. PREVIEW Buy Volume 35 for complete access or Subscribe to MAKE and Save! PARTS / TOOLS Floor flange, (for launch platform) Wood screws, (for launch platform) White glue, all-purpose Kraft paper Brown grocery bags work fine. Visco fuse aka safety fuse or cannon fuse. Search the internet for vendors. Block of wood, (for launch platform) scrap Metal pipe, (for launch platform) ¾- 1-diameter, 8-long Potassium nitrate aka saltpeter, (KNO3), 14g Some rocket enthusiasts use saltpeter-based stump remover, but I’ve never had good luck with it. Better to buy the real McCoy online. It’s cheap and the quality is terrific. Buy the powdered, not the “prilled” stuff. Water putty, nonshrinking from a hardware store Sugar, white, 7g Thin wooden stick such as a bamboo shish-kebab skewer Nail, 6D aka 6-penny Wooden dowel, 3/8 diameter Print Project STEPS PROJECT STEPS VIEW ALL 1. Wind the motor casing and make the rocket nozzle. 2. Prepare the rocket fuel. 3. Load the fuel. 4. Core the rocket engine. 5. Seal the open end. 6. Attach balance sticks. 7. Build a launch platform. 8. Launch your sugar rocket! Step #1: Wind the motor casing and make the rocket nozzle. PrevNext Homemade Sugar Rocket Cut a sheet of kraft paper 4×10. Place the 3/8 dowel on one of the 4 edges, then wrap the paper tightly around the dowel. As you roll, apply a very thin coat of white glue over one whole side of the paper. Roll the paper tube as tightly as possible. Remove the dowel and let the tube dry. After the glue dries, cut the paper tube into two 2-long segments. Each tube will be suitable for a single-use motor casing. Reinsert the 3/8 dowel into the casing, leaving a 5/16 gap between the end of the tube and the dowel. Mix a small amount of nonshrinking water putty according to the label directions. Press the putty firmly into the end of the tube. Slowly remove the dowel and set the nozzle aside to dry. Repeat this process for the second motor. CONCLUSION Troubleshooting If the rocket does not ignite, stay away from it for 5 minutes. Then put on thick gloves, pick it up carefully with the nozzle pointed away, and soak it in water until it disintegrates. Discard the pieces in an outdoor trash can. Be certain your chemicals are pure and well mixed. When in doubt, increase the mixing time in the shaking container. Pay careful attention to the temperature setting on the electric skillet or hot plate. Melting at the wrong temperature can hurt the fuel’s performance. If your rocket fires but won’t lift off, increase the size of the nozzle opening, increase the size of the core hole, or reduce the rocket’s weight by using thinner paper and less glue in building the tube.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:57:16 +0000
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