How to Build Rocket Motors for Hobby Rockets
A hobby rocket does not propel itself into the air--that’s the job of the rocket motor that is placed inside. You can build a rocket motor to use with a hobby rocket from a few supplies purchased at a hobby store and some tools found in most households. Placing the explosive mixture into the rocket engine should be done just before using the rocket engine to launch the hobby rocket, and adult supervision is required when making and using the rocker motor if a child is involved.
Things You'll Need
- Newspaper
- 1-inch diameter PVC tube, 8 inches long
- Kitty litter
- Icing mixture-ingredient No. 2
- Potassium nitrate
- Sugar
- Measuring cup
- Icing
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Portable drill
- 1/4-inch drill bit
- Chisel
- Hammer
- Mortar
- Pestle
- Cotton wadding
- Pencil
- 1/4-inch diameter wooden dowel, 10 inches long
- Utility knife
- Hobby rocket
- Sparkler
- Paper match
Instructions
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1
Place a sheet of newspaper on a table to protect the surface. Stand the PVC pipe on the newspaper. Measure up 2/3-inch from the bottom of the PVC pipe. Make a dot on the PVC pipe with the pencil at the two-thirds mark. Repeat this, but from the top of the PVC pipe.
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2
Insert kitty litter into the PVC pipe up to the markings made with the pencil. Compress the kitty litter into the bottom of the pipe with the chisel and hammer. Insert the cotton wadding into the PVC pipe. Push the cotton wadding down into the PVC pipe with the eraser end of the pencil.
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3
Mix 11 grams of potassium nitrate and 20 grams of sugar in a measuring cup. Mix the mixture using an end of the wooden dowel.
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4
Add the content of the measuring cup to the mortar. Add 31 grams of icing mixture to the mortar. Mix the ingredients together in the mortar using the pestle.
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5
Insert the contents of the mortar into the PVC pipe. Insert the point of the chisel into the PVC pipe. Compress the contents of the mortar by hitting the top of the chisel with the hammer.
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6
Insert more of the first ingredient into the PVC pipe until it reaches the top. Insert another cotton wadding into the PVC pipe. Drill through the cotton wadding with the portable drill.
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7
Insert more kitty litter into the PVC pipe until it reaches the top. Insert another cotton wadding into the PVC pipe. Drill through the cotton wadding with the portable drill.
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8
Sharpen the other end of the wooden dowel with the blade of the utility knife. Stick the sharpened end of the wooden dowel into the ground.
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9
Place the bottom of the hobby rocket over the top of your rocket motor. Insert the rod of a sparkler or the cardboard end of a paper match into the bottom of the rocket motor to act as a fuse.
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Tips & Warnings
Adult supervision is recommended if you are underage when making and using the rocket engine.
Never fire a hobby rocket in a crowd or a location populated by people.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images
