CO₂ dragster

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Rear view of a dragster. The hollow container for the carbon dioxide cartridge can't be seen.

CO₂ dragsters are miniature racing cars racing with suspenders powered by a rocket launcher carbon dioxide cartridge. They are frequently used for purposes like demonstrating mechanical principles. A set of two hooks (eyelets or screw eyes) linked to a string (usually monofilament fishing line)at the bottom of the car prevent the vehicle from losing control during launch. In a race, a laser scanner records the speed of the car at the end of its run. Often, the dragster is carved out of balsa wood because of its light weight.

CO₂ Cars are a preferred favorite for engineering curriculae worldwide. Students learn about the forces of gravity, drag, wind resistance, and the motion of air as a fluid. The project mainly tests the aerodynamic and weight properties of a student's car (see also aerodynamics).

How the Metric 500 Works

Beginning .100 seconds into a CO₂ Dragster race. High Speed camera photo of two dragsters racing 65.5 feet in about 1.000 second.
A student setting her dragster up for the CO2 Car race.

A student setting her dragster up for the CO₂ Car race.
High speed shot of a race about .750 seconds in.

High speed shot of a race about .750 seconds in.

Students first place the CO₂ Car on the filament line, and check to make sure cars are in good repair and are ready to race. CO₂ cartridges are inserted into the powerplants, and the cars are lined up behind the starting line. The starter boxes (the device that allows the cartridge to be punctured) is adhered down with velcro at the beginning of the starting mat. Draggsters may be placed anywhere in the starrting area, so long as the front of the body (usually the nose) is behind the red line (Adding to this, a shorter car does not necessarily mean the car is a faster one). The starter boxes can be adjusted by loosening a lever 90 degrees to accommodate for the height of the dragster. Once the neck of the cartridge is lined up with the pin, the neck is fitted into a tube in the starter box. The lever is switched back up 90 degrees to indicate a racer is ready.

In TSA finals, professional staff will handle all CO₂ Cars. Repairs (and final touches) must be attended to BEFORE entry. When both cars are ready, the central computer is on standby to launch the dragsters. The instructor should check everything for safety, and will order all participants to step away from the track. The timer is activated (With the Impulse III System) and in 10 seconds both pins will puncture Botha CO₂ car(s).

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