Last night I had a mental breakthrough…
Everyone has seen the Mentos and Diet Coke fountain.
They are getting boring.
Most of us have seen the Mentos and Diet Coke rockets.
They are NOT getting boring, they are, however, hit-and-miss at making happen.
So. Why not build a sort of Mentos & Diet Coke “rocket launcher”?
Good idea, Mister Sheets, good idea!
First idea – PVC tube that a 2-liter bottle would fit in.
Problem – 4″ PVC tube is too small for 4.25″ 2-liter bottle.
Solution idea: split PVC down the middle and maybe it will “open up” enough to allow for smooth 2-liter travel.
Nope. Just collapses on itself (bought the thin-walled kind, note to self: try thicker wall PVC.
Idea #2 – the “trough” – a trough of PVC tube that allows bottle to fall down smoothly.
Nice idea, I thought. Here’s the build photos:
The unmodified mortor – a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke
a 2-liter bottle will not fit in 4″ PVC
even when split, the PVC doesn’t allow for “optimal bottle slide-age”
New idea: “the trough”
The 4″ to 2″ PVC reducer
threaded bushing
the “puncturer”
finished setup
NOTE TO SELF: next time, wear eye-protection when working with PVC (not small bits of PVC that AREN’T in the eyes, but are close
So, I built this bit of day-off engineered goodness and after a wonderful dinner with Eric & Meagan Barker (and baby Nate!) I came home and tried it out.
It needs a bit of fine-tuning – as you’ll be able to tell from the two videos:
Attempt #1
Attempt #2
Hey stevan, one of the guys here said we should try to make a bottle rocket. That actually works. hehehehe
my exact quote was:
” (mild laughter) … dumb”
It’s probably just jealousy because I didn’t think of it first.
You forgot to call me. It’s because you didn’t have Glen Robinson as your brainy assistant. That’s why it didn’t work.
Man, you have way too much time on your hands. What in the world is your new pastor having you do??? I have missed talking to you, what has been happening. We are extremely busy, but would love to see you guys again. Keep in touch, Steve
Any diet cola works, not just diet coke. Buying generic would probably save you quite a bit of money in your experiments.
Steve,
I spiced up your video and posted it on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euvP0iJfmBg
Sent a message in youtube…guess you didn’t get it.
STEVAN!!!!!! You don’t want to hear what I have to say. I understand your appetite to be a godly man, husband, daddy, son, example to everyone, scientist and experimentalist………but, promise me…you will ‘stay within the lines’ of safety, health, protection, etc. Oh, and in the disclaimer for protection…please include anyone within a mile of you. Ok?