Rubber Stopper Launcher: How to Launch Over 100m Using a Gas Reaction

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around designing a launcher for a rubber stopper using a gas-producing reaction, aiming to achieve a launch distance of over 100 meters. Participants explore various chemical and physical reactions that could generate sufficient gas to propel the stopper from a plastic bottle, while adhering to safety constraints and experimental guidelines.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a design using dry ice in a metal chamber to build pressure, which was deemed unsafe and classified as "a bomb."
  • Another participant suggests that the age of the original poster is relevant to the safety of proposed methods and emphasizes the need for teacher approval.
  • A participant proposes using a calcium carbide and water reaction to produce acetylene but acknowledges that ignition may not comply with the rules.
  • Another suggestion involves using sodium and water, which may produce a self-igniting reaction, though uncertainty exists about its safety and applicability.
  • The original poster expresses a desire to modify the bottle or its environment to enhance launch distance and considers alternatives to dry ice that expand gas more rapidly.
  • One participant admits to misunderstanding the original intent of the project and apologizes for the confusion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to achieve the desired launch distance. Multiple competing views and suggestions remain, with ongoing uncertainty about safety and compliance with experimental rules.

Contextual Notes

Participants express concerns about safety and the appropriateness of certain chemical reactions, indicating that some proposed methods may not be allowed in the experimental context. There is also a lack of clarity regarding the effectiveness and safety of suggested reactions.

Karshtakavaar
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Hello! I'm neck-deep in concept designs, and honestly, I am swamped. I'm participating in an experiment to launch a rubber stopper from a bottle using a gas-producing reaction. My most recent design structure used dry ice, and a chamber made of metal, with the dry ice proportioned out inside both the chamber and the bottle to match the pressure on the inside of the bottle as the dry ice expanded. This allowed me to restrain the stopper, and build up pressure inside the bottle without bursting the bottle. This, however, apparently classified as "a bomb", and was consequently banned from use in the experiment.

My question is what I should do now. I would like to launch this rubber stopper over 100-150m. The stopper (made of rubber) weighs about 85g, and the base is ~1.45cm wide, with the rest coning out to a diameter of ~2.65cm, and the only thing allowed to launch the stopper is a gas reaction, either physical or chemical. I'm launching it from a plastic 125mL bottle, with a cap ~1.85cm wide. A regular baking-soda-vinegar reaction doesn't launch it more than ~50-60m. Any ideas on how to achieve this?
 
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I'd like to know what age range you're in before commenting. There are certainly several ways to do it, but many of them might be quite dangerous to both you and your surroundings if something goes wrong.
In a school situation, anything that I suggest should be bounced off of a teacher (verbally, not physically) before construction.
 
16 Years Old
 
I just realized that my initial idea wouldn't be what you need. That was to use a calcium-carbide/water reaction which produces acetylene. You'd still have to ignite it, though, which I don't believe fits your rules.
How about sodium/water? I think that the result is self-igniting, but I'm not sure.
 
No combustion reactions, sadly. I think I'm going to use dry ice, like I said in the original post, just without the structure that let me increase pressure around the bottle. I was mainly looking for ways to increase possible distance by altering the bottle, or the environment around the bottle. It would be awesome if I could find a gas that expands faster than dry ice, though.
 
Okay; I misunderstood your intent. Sorry.
 

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