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/sci/ - Science & Math

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File: 641 KB, 1000x750, 2010-11-11_13-10-00_271.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2038353 No.2038353 [Reply] [Original]

Greetings, /sci/.

In light of recent events, my interest in rockets and missiles has been rekindled.

So, today I present to you a project. It is one many of you have already seen, but whatever.

I will be making the most sophisticated, and preferably the largest, match rocket known to man.

Initial prototypes will employ roughly 50 match heads.

Here are my ingredients (subject to change as build progresses):

-Roughly 250 matches
-and a nearly full roll of aluminum foil

I will be using the following as tools:

-Hammer
-Plate to organize the match heads
-Fire place to keep warm, and provide light for shitty camera
-A lighter to light the rockets

>> No.2038364

The first step of this process is to cut the match heads. Here I have about 60 match heads ready to be put into aluminum foil.

>inb4 crush them

I've tried. That's why I have the hammer. The match heads are just really difficult to crush for some reason. I probably need the larger matches to be able to crush them.

My next step will be to create the rockets.

>> No.2038358

I remember doing this shit.

>> No.2038367
File: 673 KB, 1000x750, 2010-11-11_13-18-31_42.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2038367

>>2038364
forgot pic

>> No.2038372

>>2038366
Haha. Yes. I'll change it.

There. It's changed.

>> No.2038366

>>2038353

>!Boxxymv4pY

Couldn't you have chosen a better trip?

>> No.2038376

>>2038364
Crushing them works really well with wooden matches. Never did this with paper matches.

>> No.2038432
File: 1.71 MB, 3264x2448, 2010-11-11_13-50-54_231.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2038432

>>2038376
It's extremely difficult with paper matches.

Here is the finished product, and now it's time for testing.

About 3/4 of this rocket is fuel, so I don't think we will get a complete burn.

Chance of CATO is also quite high with so many matches.

I'll return shortly with pictures of test.

>> No.2038454

You will need a LOT more match heads.

500+

Your project is fail

Fill two plastic bottle caps with match heads and tape them together. Drilling a small hole and gluing the fuse in before taping together of course. Light the fuse and you'll get a bang.

>> No.2038460
File: 1.59 MB, 3264x2448, 2010-11-11_13-55-55_85.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2038460

Ready for launch!

>> No.2038463

>>2038432 implying there is take off involved in this catastrophe.

>> No.2038464

>>2038454
I'm not after a bang.

I want a rocket.

Thanks for the advice though.

I only have like 300 matches left. Haha.

>> No.2038468

>>2038463
Either way, I get a result.

If it fails, I know I have to change a few things.

If it flies, I know I'm on the right track.

>> No.2038490

Make some cardboard tubes with kraft paper, pva glue and some dowel rod or round metal bar.

Make nozzles with a mould and plaster.

Some crunched up tinfoil is not going to let it fly any sort of trajectory.

>> No.2038507

>>2038490
You'd be surprised. I've done this before and it's unreliable, but often will fly.

>> No.2038518
File: 2.18 MB, 3264x2448, 2010-11-11_14-08-21_75.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2038518

After a sudden gust of wind, my launch pad was gone. I decided to perform a static test for this rocket.

However, since it was so windy, I couldn't get any form of safe ignition for the rocket. I think I'll have to wait until the wind dies down before I try to light it.

>> No.2038521

Make sure you film the launch. I'm interested in seeing how it works out.

>> No.2038524

>>2038518
Launch it indoors.

>> No.2038525

>>2038521
I will.

Should I launch it from the launch pad and have it fly, or should I just do a static launch?

>> No.2038526

>>2038524
There's a good 60+ match heads in there. I could launch it in my fireplace, but you wouldn't see any flying.

Plus theres a fire in there already.

I think I'll find a place where there is no wind and try again.

>> No.2038575

>>2038525
Video uploading as we speak.

>> No.2038610

bump for video

>> No.2038612

sace

>> No.2038617

>>2038610
65% done.

>> No.2038619
File: 28 KB, 251x131, 1289487809396s copy.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2038619

I'd save some of that tinfoil to make a cute little hat you can wear when you light it up!

>> No.2038649

>>2038619
Good idea.

It'd probably fly away though. It's really windy. Haha.

>> No.2038729

Sorry for the wait guys.

My internet sucks.

Should be done here soon.

>> No.2038752

>>2038729

I've got plenty of time. I assume it's worth the wait.

>> No.2038791

>>2038752
It is quite exciting. Haha.

About 10% left until it's done.

>> No.2038809

Here ya go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjJnNe5bvlU

>> No.2038817

I have a question.

When I light a match, I don't experience any recoil. How come, then, that match heads can be used as a propellant? Or is the OP just a retard?

>> No.2038816

>>2038809

well that was shit

>> No.2038820

Guess you had to put more match heads in the project... Better luck next time

>> No.2038823

>>2038817

one match doesn't equal 60 matches retard

>> No.2038825

>>2038817
When you have a bunch together in a confined space, a lot of pressure is created when they ignite.

Ever notice how fast matches light up?

>> No.2038830

>>2038820
I don't think it was the amount of matches that was the problem. I should just use stronger materials next time.

I have had aluminum foil explode with just three match heads.

Should I do what >>2038490 suggested next time?

>> No.2038838

>>2038825
In the same way I noticed that a speaker on wheels playing Dragonforce can reach the speed of sound.

>> No.2038852

>>2038830
how can you produce thrust with the matches?

>> No.2038862

>>2038830
I have a bunch of thick cardboard tubes about 3/4 inch in diameter. When I make bombs, I cut off a section a few inches long, jam a piece of dowel in one end and staple it in, pack the rest with black powder (although match heads would work) and put in a fuse, then jam another piece of dowel in the top and staple it in. Then I wrap the whole thing in 10 or 12 layers of aluminum from a beer can. You could probably use a design somewhat like that to make a rocket if you added a nozzle in the bottom and fins.

>> No.2038863

>>2038852
Try making one yourself!

The matches burn very quickly and release lots of gases when ignited. These gases, via a nosel, produce thrust.

A well made moderately sized match rocket (5-10 match heads) can fly up to 30 feet.

It's just the same as solid rocket propellant, just not as powerful or reliable.

>> No.2038869

Heh, quite anti-climactic. Maybe you should try again with a few hundred match heads this time. Perhaps you could also use something more sturdy than that flimsy aluminium foil and create some kind of nozzle.

Still, nice project, OP.

>> No.2038880

>>2038863
shouldn't it have to burn continuously, not just at once?
I don't understand how you can do this without controlling the burn.
>NOT a rocket scientist, obv

>> No.2038885

>>2038862
Good idea.

Fuses aren't available (or even legal as far as I know) in my state, so would a string soaked in lighter fluid and dried work?

It would weigh quite a bit, but it would use lots of match heads.

It could work.

>> No.2038906

>>2038880
You know the red stuff at the tip of the match? Well, you crush the match (in my case I couldn't do this, since I had paper matches. I ended up just cutting the tips off) to get that red stuff off.

Then you should have red powder. This is your fuel.

Put this in a confined space with a nozzle (such as an aluminum foil rocket) and heat it with some sort of external heat source or a fuse.

Go try it.

>> No.2038910

>>2038869
Thanks.

I think I'll try what >>2038862 said. Maybe I'll make another thread when I do it. Haha.

>> No.2038928

>>2038885
No, that probably wouldn't work, since you need the fuse to be able to burn without oxygen. Nichrome wire is another alternative if you have it.

>> No.2038944

>>2038928
Does Nichrome wire burn like a fuse?

>> No.2038946

>>2038906
Thanks for responding, I see what you mean. Now I understand why you wanted stronger material.

>> No.2038985

>>2038946
No problem.

Aluminum foil is good for small match rockets for a variety of reasons. It's light, easily transfers heat, cheap, etc.

But when you start putting 60 match heads into only three-layer thick aluminum foil, you get what happened to me. The top of the rocket was easily the thickest part of it (4-5 layers of aluminum foil there) and it blew out like someone had drilled into it.

It's quite fun when you get used to making them. It's nothing compared to KNO3 and glucose rockets or hobby grade rockets, but it's cheap and fast.

>> No.2039010

>>2038944
Nichrome wire doesn't "burn." It heats up when you apply an electric current. Very handy for ignition.

>> No.2039011

>>2038944

It heats up hot enough and for long enough to ignite stuff.

Powdered heads burn quicker.

Yes >>2038830
Do this >>2038490

You're able to get everything you need for rocketry in america easily.

Buy or make a ballmill.

Learn to make black powder SAFELY and different variations of it.

With black powder you can make some quality fuse if you research it enough. Multicored string with a waterproof nitrocellulose coating.

Learn to make tubes and nozzles accurately and reliably.

>> No.2039042

>>2039011
>It heats up hot enough and for long enough to ignite stuff.
Probably not for matchheads, you're right. But it certainly works for igniting black powder.

>> No.2039119

>>2039011
Is it legal to ship the ingredients for black powder?

Potassium Nitrate isn't sold anywhere here.

>> No.2039153

just take an x-acto knife and cut all of the red powder off of each match. it's pretty easy to do, just time consuming. spend enough time doing this and you'll collect a very nice amount of it. cutting the match heads off doesn't compare to how quickly the powder alone will ignite. it's impressive

>> No.2039276

>>2039153
I tried this, but with paper matches it's difficult not to get the paper in the cut. I guess it takes practice.

>> No.2039313

>>2039276
oh. get wooden matches.

>> No.2039358

>>2039313
I figured that. (:

>> No.2039363

>>2039011
How would you make a nozzle?

With the kitty litter?

>> No.2039428

>>2038817
A very quick lesson to teach yourself.
Go get a small firecracker. Put it on your palm, with your palm open and ignite it. You don't really feel a thing.
Now put another one on your palm and make a closed fist around it. Ignite it. Post the pictures.

Has anyone else made a poor mans grenade. Get a tennis ball. Make a small cut along the seem. Stuff it full of match heads. Throw.

>> No.2040064
File: 33 KB, 432x780, Americuuuuuh.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2040064

How about this design.

Not OP or any of the above.

>> No.2040422

How much strength does foil have?
If you wrapped say 4-5 layers around a cardboard cylinder, does it add a noticeable amount of strength?

>> No.2040672

>>2038518
That's a fucking rocket?
Looks like a tin foil doobie.