BLOODHOUND SSC CHALLENGE 2013IRSHAAD PARKER & YAASEEN JONES

Specifications

• Design a model scale car

• Break land speed record of 89mph

• Be able to travel over a 20-25m distance

• Any materials may be used to make this model car

• Any substances can be used as a propulsion method besides gunpowder

PROPELLANT

• Because of the reactivity of KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate) and sugar we have decided to use this as our propellant

Ingredients

50g KNO3

29g Sugar

1g rust (As a catalyst)

WHY WE CHOSE KNO3

• Cheap

• Easy to get (At any pharmacy)

• Offers a high thrust

• Burns long

• Safe mixture (Doesn’t easily spark)

• Not explosive

OTHER METHODS THAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT

• CO2 gas

• Elastics

• Compressed air

Possible Car Designs

1st Attempt

• Bottles before they were blown were used to put the liquid mixture

• The liquid mixture set overnight until it got hard

• Putty was then used to mould the nozzle

• A sparkle was put through the nozzle so that it touches the mixture of KNO3

• The bottle was then put in a pipe and the sparkle was lit

• Bottle shot out of the pipe

2nd Attempt

• CO2 cartridge was punctured to release the gas

• A hole was drilled through the cartridge

• Crushed KNO3 was put in the cartridge (Filled halfway) and then reheated

• A sparkle was put inside the cartridge and the cartridge was put in a test car

• Sparkle was lit but car never went far

Plan of action

• Cartridge therefore have to be filled fully with KNO3

• A more potent mixture should be made

• A starting mechanism should be made

• A new car should be designed (Original Car during testing)

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

• All testing was done under parental and teacher supervision

• Testing was done in a wide open area

• Research was done about how the mixture burns

• Fireproof gloves, safety goggles and safe clothing was worn while experiment was conducted