Homemade Model Rocket Engine
A model rocket is a simple tube with fins attached to it that you can propel using an explosive mixture of gas. This can be a fun science experiment that you can put together with your kids, or it can be something that you do for you own amusement. Although you can purchase a rocket engine from a hobby store, you can also build your own rocket fuel and engine using a few household items.
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Things You'll Need
- Potassium nitrate
- Sulfur
- Sugar
- Thick brown paper
- Glue
- Rock hard water putty
- Power drill with drill bit
- Safety goggles
- Safety gloves
- Nonflammable clothing
- 10-second delay fuse
Instructions
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1
Prepare the propellant. Weigh 6.3 oz. of potassium nitrate, 1 oz. of sulfur, and 2.7 oz. of sugar. Mix them together by shaking them in a closed clear plastic container. Mix them thoroughly. Do not use spoon or blender in mixing the three substances. The friction created may cause the mixture to burn. Use a clear plastic container only. Mixing the substances together thoroughly will create a light yellow-colored mixture.
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2
Create a casing for the model rocket engine. Cut a strip of 4-inch-wide and 12-inch-long thick brown paper. Roll it around a wooden dowel to make a paper tube. Roll the paper tightly to avoid air pockets between each roll. The diameter of the paper tube should be slightly greater than the tube of the model rocket. For instance, if the model rocket tube is 2 3/4 inches in diameter, the paper should be around 3 inches diameter. To make sure that the paper tube will not loosen up, apply glue to the last roll and let it dry. Carefully pull out the roll from the wooden dowel once the glue has dried.
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3
Prepare the nozzles. Mix the rock hard water putty or any clay powder with water to create a paste for the styrofoam cup. Get the wooden dowel and insert it into the paper tube until it is 1/4 inch away from the top of the tube. Fill the 1/4 inch space with the putty. When it is filled, carefully remove the wooden towel. Do it gently so that it will not suck the putty down to the bottom. Turn the paper tube upside down on a piece of paper so that the putty will be at the bottom. Let it dry. This will take a few hours.
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4
Fill the tube with propellant. Scoop out the light yellow propellant mixture that you prepared and fill the tube until it is about 1 1/2 inches away from the top of the paper tube. Once it is filled, fill the remaining space with a putty. Leave the putty in place to let it dry. It may take a few hours for the putty to dry completely.
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5
Drill a hole through the tube. Once the putty is dried, get a power drill with a 3 mm drill bit. Make a hole at the center of the tube using the drill bit. Do not drill the hole all the way to the bottom. Stop drilling and take out the drill bit from the hole every 3/4 inches. Allow the drill bit before you continue making another hole. The heat may ignite the propellant mixture. Drill until you reach the bottom. The rocket model engine is ready for ignition.
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6
Attach a ten second fuse to the rocket engine. These can be purchased from a hobby and craft store. Make sure that the fuse touches the propellant and that you are sufficiently far away after you have lit the fuse.
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Tips & Warnings
These chemicals are flammable and dangerous. They should always be used in a well-ventilated area, and safety gloves, goggles and clothing should be used. This should only be done with adult supervision.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Rocket image by Yuriy Rozanov from Fotolia.com
