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Spud Gun Science Fair Project

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:52 pm
by SwissSpudGunner
So I need some ideas to turn my spud gun into a science experiment. I have a combustion cannon. I use hairspray as a fuel.The gun is made out of schedule 40 PVC, PVC primer and cement. Here it is.

2) The spud gun uses 1.5-in.-dia. pipe for the barrel. It is connected via a 1.5 x 4-in. bushing and a coupler to a 10-in. length of 4-in. pipe (the combustion chamber) That pipe is linked to a cleanout adapter and endcap (which is removed to add fuel).

3) A grill igniter is wired to a pair of machine screws that extend through the combustion-chamber wall.

That's it. Hope you can Help.

-SwissSpudGunner

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:02 pm
by djt
Since usually science fair experiments are supposed to be more controlled, i would upgrade to metered propane. With that you could do something with amount of fuel vs. velocity or distance. You could also do something with ammo shape and distance/accuracy.

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:10 pm
by schmanman
How about everything djt said, but testing ammo penetration instead?

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:30 pm
by pyrogeek
Then you can make a comment in your project about how you are after deep penetration. And just act all confused when someone points it out, then call them a pervert.

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:34 pm
by pyromanic13
I amde a thread on this... do a search. (I'll save you some trouble) I tested how to make good body armor useing Dilatant substances... I even wrote up a procedure and pasted it one here..

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:37 pm
by King_TaTer
first of all, welcome to the forums swissspudgunner. I think maybe for your science fair project you could demonstrate shooting nonharmful projectiles into the air and/or at a target to demonstrate the power and the physics involved. :D

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:23 pm
by boilingleadbath
There is at least one thread here which discusses the construction of home-made cronographs. (see if you can find them... I don't feel like it)

I'm sure you can think of something interesting to do with those numbers. Maybe you could do a repeat of the latke tests?

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:22 am
by SwissSpudGunner
thank you everyone. your input is very helpful. if you think of anything else i would be very thankful if you could share it with me. thanks again.

-SwissSpudGunner

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:05 pm
by redneck2882
did you test the penitration because im thinking about testing it for mmy science fair :arrow:

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:31 pm
by Technician1002
Build a magnetic chronograph and use a sound card to record a series of shots. Find the best fuel air ratio. Repeat for different mass projectiles to see if lighter projectiles benefit from rich or lean mixtures compared to heavy projectiles. Does a heavy projectile benefit from a rich mix for a slower burn and a light projectile from a leaner burn?

First have a hypothesis, then design an experiment to prove your theory, run the experiment, analyze the result, and write a conclusion to your study.

Science fairs are designed to encourage scientific reasoning. Use that, or yoru project won't gain many points.

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:56 pm
by SpudBlaster15
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:57 pm
by warhead052
Uh, I hope you guys realize this was last posted in 2006... Talk about bumping.