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.:`=-~rANdOm~`-=:. Game Servers (Read Only) => Discussion => Topic started by: Foofoojack on January 01, 2012, 10:07:13 PM

Title: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 01, 2012, 10:07:13 PM
So around a month ago, my whole chemistry class was assigned a fairly large project - the whole class being split up in a number of independent groups.

So a group of me and 4 other people, have to construct a chemical reaction causing propellant, to propel a car.

The thing is, each person has a different job in the group, we have:


I have the job of the mechanical engineer, the one who physically builds the car.

Here are some of the physical car requirements:


Furthermore, the car is going to be propelled by a black powder, consisting of the formulaic equation:

2 KNO3 + S + 3 C   --->  K2S + N2 + 3 CO2

Seeing as though it is a black powder, I'm lost at ideas of the physical car, the shape, form, product, material, of how it will be built.

Got any good ideas on how I could put it together? (Please try to be as serious as possible, and keep to only posting if you know what you're talking about.)

FYI, my father and step-father both work in the mechanical industry, so I have access to a lot of material.

Thanks!

(There may be rewards for very contributing people!)
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Cake Faice on January 01, 2012, 10:11:31 PM
My friend made an outer shell of his car with lego blocks and some wood + wood glue, but he made a compartment for a co2 cartridge. You could try the lego idea, make it black and snazzy and somewhat aerodynamic.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 01, 2012, 10:36:51 PM
Wood is still a reputable way to go. skeletonize that shit
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 01, 2012, 10:41:01 PM
Wood and/or legos sounds pretty useful, but how would it be crafted to hold the black sulfuric powder?

Where would the powder go? What would hold it? What would make it secure?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 01, 2012, 11:17:19 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 01, 2012, 10:41:01 PM
Wood and/or legos sounds pretty useful, but how would it be crafted to hold the black sulfuric powder?

Where would the powder go? What would hold it? What would make it secure?

depends on your method of propulsion. black powder burns pretty quick.
How will you be using the black powder to propel your vehicle?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 01, 2012, 11:34:38 PM
Quote from: Deacon on January 01, 2012, 11:17:19 PM
depends on your method of propulsion. black powder burns pretty quick.
How will you be using the black powder to propel your vehicle?

The black powder will propel through some sort of hole in the back of the car, inside of some sort of small container within the car itself, making it very compact and explosive. It'll be lit using whatever, and hopefully it'll go. I just don't know how/where to position the powder so it goes.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 01, 2012, 11:42:15 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 01, 2012, 11:34:38 PM
The black powder will propel through some sort of hole in the back of the car, inside of some sort of small container within the car itself, making it very compact and explosive. It'll be lit using whatever, and hopefully it'll go. I just don't know how/where to position the powder so it goes.

so, a black powder rocket engine
be careful
make many prototypes and stay the fuck back, you may end up with a bomb
try a small cylinder to contain the engine. one that fits into a hole in your chassis, so if something goes wrong the engine can be replaced without replacing the chassis
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 01:21:12 AM
Quote from: Deacon on January 01, 2012, 11:42:15 PM
so, a black powder rocket engine
be careful
make many prototypes and stay the fuck back, you may end up with a bomb
try a small cylinder to contain the engine. one that fits into a hole in your chassis, so if something goes wrong the engine can be replaced without replacing the chassis

That's similar to what I was thinking, do you think PVC piping for a chassis and cylinder would contain it?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 02, 2012, 01:27:10 AM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 01:21:12 AM
That's similar to what I was thinking, do you think PVC piping for a chassis and cylinder would contain it?

PVC is very versatile for a chassis, but you'd have to step the pressure rating up quite a bit to use as a motor housing. Don't forget, especially with black powder, anything like a rocket that is not constructed properly becomes (very quickly) a bomb.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 02, 2012, 02:04:46 AM
DP. Also, Double post.

Did your group CHOOSE black powder as a method of propulsion, or is that a requirement?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 01:49:43 PM
Quote from: Deacon on January 02, 2012, 02:04:46 AM
DP. Also, Double post.

Did your group CHOOSE black powder as a method of propulsion, or is that a requirement?

That's what they agreed on, out of that, home-made fireworks, or a home-made battery.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Seb on January 02, 2012, 03:02:49 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 01:49:43 PM
That's what they agreed on, out of that, home-made fireworks, or a home-made battery.

...aren't homemade fireworks illegal?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 03:31:15 PM
Quote from: Seb on January 02, 2012, 03:02:49 PM
...aren't homemade fireworks illegal?

Probably..

I don't know, I think that my previous propellant is clearly out of the equation though, seeing as it's gunpowder. (Yeah, I just now realized this.)

I'll have to think of some more ideas to get it moving..
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 02, 2012, 05:19:50 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 03:31:15 PM
Probably..

I don't know, I think that my previous propellant is clearly out of the equation though, seeing as it's gunpowder. (Yeah, I just now realized this.)

I'll have to think of some more ideas to get it moving..

Yeah this was my concern as well. Fucking lol.

So you need to carry a load, plus determine what provides enough thrust to move said load
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: blαh2355 on January 02, 2012, 05:32:54 PM
Quote from: Deacon on January 02, 2012, 05:19:50 PM
So you need to carry a load, plus determine what provides enough thrust to move said load
Dat metaphor
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Seb on January 02, 2012, 05:48:12 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 03:31:15 PM
Probably..

I don't know, I think that my previous propellant is clearly out of the equation though, seeing as it's gunpowder. (Yeah, I just now realized this.)

I'll have to think of some more ideas to get it moving..

"Hey, Bobby, what did you guys do today in school?"
"We learned about tinnitus! I'm also full of hot splinters!"
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 02, 2012, 05:51:26 PM
Quote from: Deacon on January 02, 2012, 05:19:50 PM
Yeah this was my concern as well. Fucking lol.

So you need to carry a load, plus determine what provides enough thrust to move said load

Correct, but I'm going to put the thrust situation before the load situation.

A battery would result in a nice straight and continuous line.

Seeing as though a homemade battery is easy to make, i'll consult that idea with the rest of the group tomorrow.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: ledjohnny on January 02, 2012, 06:47:39 PM
What about those CO2 containers? They're compressed and you just have to pop this pin.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 02, 2012, 10:23:37 PM
Quote from: ledjohnny on January 02, 2012, 06:47:39 PM
What about those CO2 containers? They're compressed and you just have to pop this pin.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Would have been my very first suggestion since i've build a model drag car using these. However, their components must be made so that is out of the question. Unfortunately.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 13, 2012, 10:39:45 PM
Alright, so it's finally coming together.

The car itself is made out of legos, a common material used in our school.

I found an old lego space vehicle thingy I made a few years ago, and removed all its accessories, so now it's 4 wheels, a base, and 1 rubber wheel in the front, which is going to pull the whole car. (I'll go further into the details.)

The chemical engineer crafted a battery using pennies, aluminum foil, and paper towels, which will be dipped in something with a charge prior to the actual running of the car.

Next to the rubber wheel, there is a lego plate in which I have screwed the motor on to.

Connected to the part of the motor that spins, is a rubber band, which is ALSO wrapped around a secondary wheel, which is ALSO connected to the rubber wheel.

1. The motor spins, makign the rubber band spin on the secondary wheel.

2. The secondary wheel spins, which is locked with a shaft within the rubber wheel.

3. The rubber wheel spins, pulling the whole car due to its traction.

(This pic was taken before the motor was attached.)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 13, 2012, 10:41:13 PM
better have a decent amount of torque in that little motor
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 13, 2012, 10:42:46 PM
Quote from: Deacon on January 13, 2012, 10:41:13 PM
better have a decent amount of torque in that little motor

It should be fine, the car itself is actually really light
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Deacon on January 13, 2012, 10:43:49 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 13, 2012, 10:42:46 PM
It should be fine, the car itself is actually really light

True.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Tezuni on January 14, 2012, 01:01:31 AM
foofoo, keep us updated on this!  i wana know how it turns out ;-)
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: blαh2355 on January 14, 2012, 03:33:28 AM
ha, it looks like one of those lego NXT creations.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Tomcat on January 14, 2012, 08:42:47 PM
I had an egg drop project in physics.

What i would use is just wood. Preferably balsa

Edit: Also what would work good for a black powder container is a old co2 cartage with a drilled out hole... It would act like a rocket motor
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 14, 2012, 08:43:58 PM
Quote from: Tomcat on January 14, 2012, 08:42:47 PM
I had an egg drop project in physics.

What i would use is just wood. Preferably balsa

Did you just..drop an egg?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Tomcat on January 14, 2012, 08:51:31 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 14, 2012, 08:43:58 PM
Did you just..drop an egg?
from 40 feet yes, onto a moving car.... yes
I was just telling you to use wood for speed
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 14, 2012, 09:12:02 PM
Quote from: Tomcat on January 14, 2012, 08:51:31 PM
from 40 feet yes, onto a moving car.... yes
I was just telling you to use wood for speed

I thought egging was illegal.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Tomcat on January 14, 2012, 10:36:13 PM
Quote from: Foofoojack on January 14, 2012, 09:12:02 PM
I thought egging was illegal.

but the car was a model car

and it was for school soooooooooooooooooooooooo
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Tezuni on January 15, 2012, 01:17:11 AM
i did the egg one my sophomore year. every crack = minus a letter grade
we dropped it down down about 6 flights of stairs

my "lab buddy" showed up with a bag of sand... we drop it down... *BOOM* (echoes...)
osht...!!
but guess what, not one crack, i thought for sure he'd messed it up good lol  >:(
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Osme on January 15, 2012, 01:59:38 AM
Quote from: Tezuni on January 15, 2012, 01:17:11 AM
i did the egg one my sophomore year. every crack = minus a letter grade
we dropped it down down about 6 flights of stairs

my "lab buddy" showed up with a bag of sand... we drop it down... *BOOM* (echoes...)
osht...!!
but guess what, not one crack, i thought for sure he'd messed it up good lol  >:(
Suspend the egg with rubber bands in a bubble wrap lined container, though this egg thing is beginning a bit off topic.
Now question. Why exactly was gunpowder your first plan?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Foofoojack on January 15, 2012, 12:17:30 PM
Quote from: Degtyarev on January 15, 2012, 01:59:38 AM
Why exactly was gunpowder your first plan?
None of us were aware that it was gunpowder, until I actually looked it up myself.
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Astropilot on January 15, 2012, 04:01:07 PM
Quote from: blah2355 on January 02, 2012, 05:32:54 PM
Dat metaphor

Dat close derail
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: ledjohnny on January 17, 2012, 10:49:51 AM
Quote from: Tomcat on January 14, 2012, 08:51:31 PM
from 40 feet yes, onto a moving car.... yes
I was just telling you to use wood for speed
x, y, and z Independence?
Title: Re: School Chemistry Project
Post by: Tomcat on January 18, 2012, 04:47:30 PM
Quote from: ledjohnny on January 17, 2012, 10:49:51 AM
x, y, and z Independence?

yessir