Rocket Cart, Sail, Rocket Motors, Engine Igniters and Battery Pack
Rocket Cart, Sail, Rocket Motors, Engine Igniters and Battery Pack

 

Code Number: 1N22.33

Demo Title: Rocket Car - Little Cart

Condition: Good

Principle: Action & Reaction

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

Rocket Cart, Sail, Rocket Motors, Engine Igniters and Battery Pack.

Procedure:

Secure a rocket engine into the rocket car with the thumb screw. Insert a electric igniter fuse into the motor and ignite the engine . The car will travel about 30 to 50 feet, depending on the surface its on. (Do this on cement to minimize damage to the floor.) 

Next attach the ceramic plate to the car and then observe the car as the motor pushes against the plate as it is attached to the car. The plate may have to be changed periodically as the motors will eventually burn through. B6-0 or C6-0 booster motors work well because they are almost smokeless but others may also be used.  

References:

  • Thomas A. Dooling, "An Eight-Parameter Function for Simulating Model Rocket Engine Thrust Curves", TPT, Vol. 45, # 5, May 2007, p. 280.
  • Darren L. Hitt and Mary L. Lowe, "Motion Analysis of a Rocket-Propelled Truck", TPT, Vol. 34, # 3, p. 164-168, March 1996.
  • Floyd Hold, George Amann, "Apparatus for Teaching Physics - A "Rocket" Cart", TPT, Vol. 27, # 7, Oct. 1989, p. 560.
  • Henry A. Taitt, Charles E. Miller, Jr., "Impulse Recorded for Model Rocket Engines", TPT, Vol. 18, # 4, Apr. 1980, p. 315.
  • Tim C. Ingoldsby, "Rocket Sled Demonstration", TPT, Vol. 13, # 7, Oct. 1975, p. 435.
  • Erwin F. Shrader, "Two Quantitative Lecture Demonstrations Concerning Linear Momentum", AJP, 33, 10, Oct. 1965, p. 784.
  • M-566, "Cart and Fire Extinguisher", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Mh-1: Freier and Anderson,  A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • Brad Collette, "Jet-Propelled Pine-Wood Derby Car", Popular Mechanics, Sept. 2011, p. 90
1N22.30 - Rocket Cart