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Step 5Launch!
Now for the fun part:
In a safe place, preferably outside, put the match rocket in the launch pad. Point it away from flammable objects (that includes people). Carefully light the fuse, and take a few steps back. If you've done everything right, your rocket should just manage to achieve escape velocity (just kidding) !
With this design, when the fuse is nearly burnt out , it can look like it has actually gone out. Don't be fooled and go up close - make sure that it really is out before shoving your face in front of it to relight the fuse. Plus, every once in a while, if you've messed up the design, the matck will simply explode. So be careful. But have fun!
In a safe place, preferably outside, put the match rocket in the launch pad. Point it away from flammable objects (that includes people). Carefully light the fuse, and take a few steps back. If you've done everything right, your rocket should just manage to achieve escape velocity (just kidding) !
With this design, when the fuse is nearly burnt out , it can look like it has actually gone out. Don't be fooled and go up close - make sure that it really is out before shoving your face in front of it to relight the fuse. Plus, every once in a while, if you've messed up the design, the matck will simply explode. So be careful. But have fun!
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-Y
- Power the wieght: The main concern this cool little gadget only produces so much thrust so it can only lift so much wieght. Adding more matches adds more launch wieght because only so many matchheads are burning at one time so only so much thrust is being produced. A match stick rocket can lift itself, and another matchhead pretty easy so stacking a matchhead (cut the stick part off) ontop of the other match, both of them tightley wrapped inside the foil, gives the most reliable results.
- The Exhaust Channel: This is the key stone to this entire project, if the channel is too large then the exhaust gas won't create enough thrust. If the channel is too narrow then the foil won't be able to contain the preassure and the gas will escape from somewhere else. If residue from the spent fuel plugs up the exhaust channel then the remaining fuel will be wasted. If the channel does not reach all of the matchheads (while maintaining a narrow enough path) then those matchheads will not contribute to the lift.