Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite DevicesThis bestselling DIY handbook now features new and expanded projects, enabling ordinary folks to construct 16 awesome ballistic devices in their garage or basement workshops using inexpensive household or hardware store materials and this step-by-step guide. Clear instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build projects ranging from the simple match-powered rocket to the more complex tabletop catapult and the offbeat Cincinnati fire kite. The classic potato cannon has a new evil twin—the piezo-electric spud gun—and the electromagnetic pipe gun has joined the company of such favorites as the tennis ball mortar. With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind the projects, and profiles scientists and extraordinary experimenters such as Alfred Nobel, Robert Goddard, and Isaac Newton. This book will be indispensable for the legions of backyard toy-rocket launchers and fireworks fanatics who wish every day was the fourth of July. |
Contents
1 | |
9 | |
3 Back Porch Rocketry | 31 |
4 The Cincinnati Fire Kite | 59 |
5 Greek Fire and the Catapult | 71 |
6 The Tennis Ball Mortar | 87 |
7 The Sublimator | 99 |
8 The Flinger | 109 |
11 The Dry Cleaner Bag Balloon | 147 |
12 The Carbide Cannon | 157 |
13 The Electromagnetic Pipe Gun | 173 |
14 The Ballistic Pendulum | 183 |
Ideas for Further Study | 193 |
Advice on Procuring Materials | 201 |
205 | |
Back Cover | 215 |
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Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati ... William Gurstelle No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
aluminum amount angle apply Archimedes assembly Attach ballistic balloon barrel bottom build called carbide carefully catapult cement cross cure described designed determine device diagram diameter directions distance dowel drill dry ice edge effect electric end cap energy engineers experiment explosive feet fire fitting foil force forms head hold hole igniter important inch Insert inside joints KEEPING kite launch length less lifting force light lighter look match materials measure metal military mortar muzzle Newton object pendulum performance petard pieces plastic potato cannon pressure produce projectile pump push PVC pipe reducing remove rock rocket Roman safe safety scientific scientists screw securely shoot shown side solvent spud sure tape tennis ball threaded tube turn valve weight wire wooden