Single mother in need of explanation

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Dumb_Blonde - 13 Mar 2007 23:08 GMT

Thank you in advance for your time. I found a neat project to do with
my 14 year old son, but would like to know the science behind it so it
will be educational.

Here is the video link.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/470767/firecracker_rocket_project_experiment/

It is a fire cracker experiment, and I know he will love it, but I am
clueless as to how this makes my car run.

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Hyper - 14 Mar 2007 00:01 GMT

> Thank you in advance for your time. I found a neat project to do with
> my 14 year old son, but would like to know the science behind it so it
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> It is a fire cracker experiment, and I know he will love it, but I am
> clueless as to how this makes my car run.

In your car a mixture of gas and air is ignited to push a cylinder.
(see animation) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion

I don't believe that a say this ... are you sure you want to encourage
your son to 'experiment' with firecrackers?
You might find something harmless, but equally entertaining on this
site: http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/
The water rockets are worth a look.

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nmp - 14 Mar 2007 20:30 GMT

Op Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:08:25 -0700, schreef Dumb_Blonde:

<http://www.howstuffworks.com/engine.htm>

In short: expanding gasses from the explosion move the piston in the
cylinder. In the little movie clip, the piston is blown in the air, out
of the cylinder. In your car, the piston is attached to a crank which it
drives and by which it is pushed back into the cylinder too.

Experimenting with firecrackers should be interesting and exciting for a
lot of young teenagers. Under expert adult supervision, I would see nothing
wrong with it either. You don't want the makers of the movie clip to be
the supervisors though. You just *don't* light the fuse of a firecracker
with a lighter or anything else with a flame. Much too unpredictable. You
would use a "slow match" fuse or even a cigarette/cigar for that.

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fgnwtn - 17 Mar 2007 17:08 GMT

I'm doubtin' she'd want her 14yo experimenting with the later examples
of the slow match either. Maybe those things that come with fireworks,
"punks" I believe they're called would be better. A safer example at
that age than a ciggie.

>Experimenting with firecrackers should be interesting and exciting for a
>lot of young teenagers. Under expert adult supervision, I would see nothing
>wrong with it either. You don't want the makers of the movie clip to be
>the supervisors though. You just *don't* light the fuse of a firecracker
>with a lighter or anything else with a flame. Much too unpredictable. You
>would use a "slow match" fuse or even a cigarette/cigar for that.

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nmp - 18 Mar 2007 23:25 GMT

Op Sat, 17 Mar 2007 09:08:44 -0700, schreef fgnwtn:

> nmp:
>>Experimenting with firecrackers should be interesting and exciting for a
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>>unpredictable. You would use a "slow match" fuse or even a
>>cigarette/cigar for that.

> I'm doubtin' she'd want her 14yo experimenting with the later examples
> of the slow match either. Maybe those things that come with fireworks,
> "punks" I believe they're called would be better.

If they are called "punks" than that's probably what I meant. Sorry,
English is not my first language.

> A safer example at that age than a ciggie.

From the fireworks point of view a cigarette is quite safe. But I can see
what you mean.

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Space Forum / Shuttle / March 2007

Single mother in need of explanation