Table of Contents
What is the most aerodynamic shape for a CO2 car?
Sphere – A very good aerodynamic shape because of it symmetrical shape. Which allows air to flow over it’s surface with very little disruption to the air stream. A combination of basic shapes will yield the best results. This equation has to do with how much weight is over the front and rear of the vehicle.
How do you launch a CO2 dragster?
In the launcher, a homemade firing mechanism made from a trim nail, two bolts, two springs and a 1 1/2″ wide x 3/8″ thick short strip of hardwood. Simply hit the hardwood strip in the center with a hammer and the pin will pierce the Co2 canister, releasing the gas and sending your rocket car on its way.
What are CO2 cars made of?
CO2 dragsters are made of lightweight material usually balsawood or basswood. They are propelled down a track by compressed carbon dioxide gas. The CO2 cartridge is punctured so the compressed gas can rapidly leave the canister causing the dragster to move.
How does a CO2 car work?
The wood is sawed and fashioned into an aerodynamic shape, painted and decorated, given wheels, axles and small weights and then raced downhill. In this type of racing, the participant builds a small carbon dioxide cartridge into the car, which propels it down a flat, level track.
What makes a fast CO2 car?
Aerodynamics, thrust-to-weight ratio, surface drag, rolling resistance and friction–all play a role in what makes a CO2 car fast or slow.
What happens when you puncture a CO2 canister?
You will have to re-inflate your tyre with normal air, which includes larger molecule that leak out slower. If you don’t use all the CO2 gas in the cartridge, it will leak out over the next ~30 minutes approximately.
What makes a CO2 dragster go fast?
Simply put, the less weight your dragster has, the faster it will go. Because the dragster has parts moving against one another, friction is created. You can help reduce it by making sure the axles are free to rotate, and that the wheels and tires are not rubbing on the car body.
What keeps the dragsters from flying off the track?
Two hooks (eyelets or screw eyes) linked to a string (usually monofilament fishing line) on the bottom of the car prevent the vehicle from losing control during launch.
How fast do c02 cars go?
They’re super quick, on a (20-metre) track, the cars can cross the finish line in just over a second, travelling at a top speed of around 90 kilometers per hour. The CO2 dragster may be small, but it’s going to be moving at incredible speeds when you race it.
What is the fastest CO2 car in the world?
The recent Braden River High graduate built the fastest CO2 dragster in the nation, racing his way to a first-place finish in the Technology Student Association’s national dragster competition and setting a national record of . 925 seconds on a 65-foot track.
How does Newton’s third law apply to CO2 cars?
Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action (or force) there is an equal reaction (or opposing force) in the opposite direction. CO2 cars are propelled by carbon dioxide rapidly escaping from the cartridge. The reaction part of Newton’s law is fulfilled by the car’s movement.
What is a shell CO2 car?
Shell Cars – the wheels hidden. inside the body. EXAMPLES OF DRAGSTER SHAPES AND STYLES. Rail Cars – the wheels outside the body. Shell Reveal – the wheels inside.
How do you reduce drag?
Engineers reduce friction drag by making the airplane more streamlined, the wings narrower, or by using new materials that make the surface more smooth, decreasing the ability for the force of drag to effect it. As the roughness and surface area of the airplane decreases the friction drag will decrease.
How fast does a dragster go?
Among the fastest-accelerating machines in the world, 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters are often referred to as the “kings of the sport,” and with good reason. They are capable of covering the dragstrip in less than 3.7 seconds at more than 330 mph.
How much force does it take to puncture a CO2 cartridge?
CO2 liquefies at a pressure of 70 bar at 2500 C.
Can CO2 cartridges explode?
Immediately the heat in the air around the cartridge starts warming it. And when it does, the warmth causes some of the liquid CO2 to boil back into a gas. Past 87.9°, the gas pressure climbs with the temperature and the cartridge can actually explode if it gets too hot.
How do you reduce drag on a car?
Adjust the front fascia and air dam to reduce drag under the vehicle. Add side skirts. Tune the deck height, length and edge radius.You can reduce your vehicle’s aerodynamics by: Lifting it — “an inch of increased ride height degrades the coefficient of drag by about 10 drag counts [. Adding wider tires.
What is the most aerodynamic car?
The electric Mercedes EQS is the world’s most aerodynamic production car. Its 0.20 drag coefficient beats the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air. The cab-forward design isn’t just for good looks.
What shape is more aerodynamic?
For speeds lower than the speed of sound, the most aerodynamically efficient shape is the teardrop. The teardrop has a rounded nose that tapers as it moves backward, forming a narrow, yet rounded tail, which gradually brings the air around the object back together instead of creating eddy currents.
Why do drag racers use CO2?
CO2 puts the pressure on the wastegate to hold the valve closed as soon as or before it is actually needed. It reduces SO MUCH time when trying to build boost or spool a turbo engine. This saves not only time but puts less stress and reduces temperature to your torque converter and transmission!Aug 23, 2020.
Can a dragster work with less than 4 wheels?
A dragster must have exactly four (4) wheels, each of which separately must meet the regulations in W2 and W3 below. All four wheels must touch the racing surface at the same time. All wheels must roll.
How much does a CO2 dragster weigh?
It weighs 3600 pounds. Fuel consumption is about 40 gallons per minute. Your dragster uses a CO2 cartridge for power. The cartridge contains CO2 gas under pressure.
