As a class we made rocket engines. Me and a previous group have already done this as an individual project so we felt like we had an advantage. The purpose of making the rockets was to show how mixing two chemicals can cause reactions when set off by enough energy. We also learned how some atoms are more prone to giving off electrons to create a fuller outer shell rather than receiving .
To make the rocket engines we used potassium nitrate (an oxidizer) and sorbitol (the fuel). we used sorbitol as a fuel rather than sugar because it had a lower melting point and was less likely to ignite during the process of melting the two down over a hot plate to create a thick pourable substance. When the two were melted down to the pourable substance we placed it into a PVC tube to settle and dry. We left a little space to pour cement in to make a cap so the tube builds pressure and creates thrust.
When the rocket engines were dry the next day we drilled a small hole through the middle to place the fuse in . this hole also allows the fuel to burn equally through all sides. The small hole was also for all the pressure built inside to be released and propel the rocket.
Since me and a previous group had already made rocket engines for a previous project we already knew how to make them . I did however learn a lot about how the reaction in itself occurred.
To make the rocket engines we used potassium nitrate (an oxidizer) and sorbitol (the fuel). we used sorbitol as a fuel rather than sugar because it had a lower melting point and was less likely to ignite during the process of melting the two down over a hot plate to create a thick pourable substance. When the two were melted down to the pourable substance we placed it into a PVC tube to settle and dry. We left a little space to pour cement in to make a cap so the tube builds pressure and creates thrust.
When the rocket engines were dry the next day we drilled a small hole through the middle to place the fuse in . this hole also allows the fuel to burn equally through all sides. The small hole was also for all the pressure built inside to be released and propel the rocket.
Since me and a previous group had already made rocket engines for a previous project we already knew how to make them . I did however learn a lot about how the reaction in itself occurred.