Alternative dragster designs

Try this alternative to the basic dragster design:

– Use cotton buds and 16 mm wooden beads for wheels (3.5p each on eBay), instead of the more expensive MUTR axles and wheels.

– Add a cardboard base-plate (15 cm x 4.5 cm) allowing the straws to be aligned better, so straighter runs can be achieved.

– Sellotape a cardboard seat on top to take:

1. 2 x 10 g slotted masses, approximately equivalent to the total mass of the modified dragster. Measure the effect of mass on launch speed (measured using a light-gate) at constant initial air pressure.

2. a Physics-bug passenger or Lego-man, which ‘flies off’ (continues moving forward) if he’s not wearing an elastic band seat-belt when the dragster crashes. Investigate how far does he fly forward at different speeds?

Enjoy

Gerry

(See also the SEP booklet ‘Rockets and Projectiles’ available from http://www.sep.org.uk to SEP associates for a different design and more ideas.)

http://www.mindsetsonline.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1009933&osCsid=cpb4km250mujpu6a55ro3s7bc0

This is an interesting alternative to dragsters.

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