The History of CO2 Dragster Cars
CO2 dragsters are miniature race cars powered by CO2 canisters. The Technology Student Association (TSA) has organized races featuring these cars for more than 30 years. TSA has developed specifications for the car materials for students to design, build and race these cars while teaching them the principles of engineering. The principles learned over these 30 years are studied and refined to improve the performance of the CO2 dragsters.
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Laws of Motion
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Students are to take into account the weight of the car and the force generated by the punctured CO2 canister. The two factors together will determine the acceleration of the dragster.
Mass
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The kits the students use come with a block of wood. Reducing the size of the block will decrease the weight. The cars with less mass go the fastest.
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Aerodynamics
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Reducing the mass must be done in an aerodynamic fashion to help with the speed of the dragster. Students must take into account the force of the air on the car. The more aerodynamic the car, the less drag from wind moving over the car.
Friction
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Another source of drag comes from friction. Students must reduce friction between the wheels and the ground, the axles and the car body, and between the track guide to achieve maximum speed.
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