jules

building a 6cm in diameter rocket out of KClO3 and sugar would like to know if anyone can tell me a good metal to build it out of, thought aluminium would melt to easily. have some stainless steel but that is quite heavy, any ideas? also side note in the amateur science section why not have a help section rather than just completed projects so i would have somewhere to put all of my annoying posts:-)

there is not legal issue with making rockets out of kno3 and sugar, myself im trying to make a rocket without the drill hole through the middle meaning it has a longer burn time but i have to use much stronger chemicals. for you sake stay with the simple stuff till you know what you are doing with the chemistry and physics, just experiment, have fun but please make sure your safe. if you dont compress the fuel and its powdered too well it will basically become a pipe bomb which is VERY illegal and you might kill yourself.

as far as i understand it no, it only has to be able to conduct electricity, it is the massive electric magnetic field created from the current going through the projectile at an angle to the rails that creates the force. right hand rule and right hand grip rule will help here

i posted in this section simply because i didn't know where to post. i am looking for design software, something that will help me plan out my ideas so i dont have to make too many prototypes. something that will i can hopefully use to factor in forces and environmental things such as air resistance, and i want this for as cheap as possible preferably free:D(if not the testing then just the design bit would be an absolute bonus, i know its out there i just dont know where) or if anyone is making some and wants someone to test it ill be more than happy to lol

lol sorry my bad a good source of rocket power that is open to the shed scientist? sugar and KNO3 just isn't good enough

the rotor blades generate energy because of the wind pressure on the angled blades causes a rotational force to the turbine, they may go around faster than the wind speed but obviously wont go faster than the wind is pushing them as this would mean that they are using an engine to power them wasting energy thus making them redundant (meaning they don't create lift, the shape is for efficiency of generating energy, i think). there are many different types of turbine the smaller variety's generally don't need a motor to start as for the big daddy's im not sure. have you tried wiki for an explanation or howstuffworks.com generally pretty simple but should give you what you need:-)

hazmat? explain please lol i have only just joined the site and what would you recommend as a good source of power?

i am building a rocket and would like some help with fuels and oxidizers. i know the standard KNO3 with sugar, but i have managed to find a supplier of KClO3 and i thought this would be better as it releases 3 moles of oxygen per mole when thermally decomposed, a lot better than KNO3's meager 1 to 1 ratio, any thoughts? does anyone know what would be a good fuel to replace sugar providing more energy or gasses but still be safe? i was thinking coal dust but i cant balance the equation as i don't know its molecular formula or work out how much energy per mole would be released. dont be too mean im just a shed scientist!!! also any tips on rocketry would be highly appreciated:-)