Measuring Thrust of Hall Effect Thruster - Advice Needed

[stuart757]

hi i am in a bit of a pickle and could do with some advice.

i have a built, working, hall effect thruster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_thruster) but can't figure out how to measure the thrust it produces. any ideas?

thanks

stuart

 

[pallidin]

Why not just put it upside down on a sensitive balance scale(mechanical or electronic) and measure from there.
Remember, the thrust IS small, so the scale will have to very sensitive.

 

[LURCH]

Why not just put it upside down on a sensitive balance scale(mechanical or electronic) and measure from there.
Remember, the thrust IS small, so the scale will have to very sensitive.

I'm guessung that would eb a problem. For that kind of sensitivity, you'd need a digital scale, wouldn't you? I don't know if it's wise to put a digital instrument that close to such a strong magnet. Won't it wreck the thing? Or at the least, throw off its accuracy?

 

[pallidin]

You do bring up a good point. A digital scale could be adversely affected.
However, a sensitive non-magnetic mechanical scale should suffice, as the thrust is on the order of comparison to the weight of a US quarter; easily handled by mechanical balance scales.