Rocket on air track

Back to 1H - Newton's Third Law
PIRA index: 1H11.30

Description

An angled aluminum cylinder, mounted on a friction-less surface, is filled with liquid CO2 from an spray duster can then sealed with a small aperture. The cylinder is heated and as the CO2 evaporates within the cylinder, gas is expelled through the aperture thus propelling the cylinder forward.

Equipment

• air track with pump and tubing, power cable
• rocket cylinder with aperture and seal
• spray duster canister
• torch

Instructions

Connect the air track to the pump and turn it on. Invert the spray duster canister and shoot the liquid CO2 it into the rocket cylinder for about 3-4 seconds. Seal the rocket with the aperture and ball stopper and place it on the air track. Heat the lower end of the cylinder with the torch until the rocket starts to move along the track.

Keywords

rocket, air track, CO2, carbon dioxide, friction-less, torch, evaporation, aperture

Images & Movies

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  Figure1

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  Figure2

Rocket on air track -- rubber ball

Rocket on air track -- tube