Can a High-Efficiency Resistojet Be Built for a Science Fair Project?

[Ian Malcolm]

Can I build a resistojet? How?
I am in tenth grade and I want to make it for Science Fair.
A resistojet takes a non-reactive fluid, heats it up using a filament and electricity. The fluid is heated and shot out of a nozzle. Can something like this be built? Can you guys give me some advice? The thrust is small but it is high efficiency, usually for spacecraft propulsion.

 

[SteamKing]

Even better, you can buy one! See link:
http://microsat.sm.bmstu.ru/e-library/SSTL/Subsys_NitrousRJet_HQ.pdf

 

[Astronuc]

Can I build a resistojet? How?
I am in tenth grade and I want to make it for Science Fair.
A resistojet takes a non-reactive fluid, heats it up using a filament and electricity. The fluid is heated and shot out of a nozzle. Can something like this be built? Can you guys give me some advice? The thrust is small but it is high efficiency, usually for spacecraft propulsion.

Resistojets have been around since the 1950s.

For examples see - http://www.lr.tudelft.nl/en/organisation/departments-and-chairs/space-engineering/space-systems-engineering/expertise-areas/space-propulsion/propulsion-research/thermal-thrusters/water-resistojet/hoole-design/

www.its.caltech.edu/~ae121/ae121/Resistojet_Project.pdf[/URL]

[url]http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710012179_1971012179.pdf[/url] (2.4 MB, use 'save taget as')

 

[256bits]

Seems like a sophisticated put put boat design...

 

[Ian Malcolm]

Okay thanks for telling me how incredibly easy this is.