Demonstrations

Rocket Car

Code Number :	1H10.30
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: U of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Good
Principle :	Action & Reaction
Area of Study :	Mechanics
Equipment :	Rocket Car Demo, Dynamics Carts (For Rocket Car Demo).
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 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 Holt, George Amann, "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.

Mh-1: Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille