HYDROGEN-OXYGEN BOTTLE ROCKET
By Tom Zimmerman
Photograph by Sam Murphy
FLAMMABLE WHEN WET
Use electricity to split tap water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, then use this explosive gas mixture to power a two-stage, electronically timed rocket.
Air-powered water rockets are easy to build and the fuel is free, but do you want to push the envelope? How about a two-stage water rocket? And instead of pressurized air, how about an explosive gas? I know the perfect gas to use.
Back in high school chemistry, I learned about the electrolysis of water, using electricity to break water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gases. A spark recombines the elements ...
Get Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 20 now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
