| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
Hello, I am a big fan of the site (please post some new experiments). Where do I get polyresin for the water bomb. Also how do i bulid a lifter, and is there a way to make a relatively safw HV power source for it. I think its neat theres not an explanination for its levitation. Thanks Matt | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
Polyester resin is available in hardware stores. It is used with glass fiber cloth to make fiberglass. There are plenty of sites that show you how to build the high voltage engine called a lifter. I have yet to see one that doesn't pretend that there is something mysterious about it, or that it would make a good rocket engine. The lifter works by moving molecules, like other high voltage motors. Like the radiometer, it works better in a near vacuum, where the mean free path of the molecules is longer. But in a good vacuum, it won't work, as there are not enough molecules to move. Adding a little gas to work with would make it similar to an ion engine, but less efficient. So far I haven't seen anyone build one that was big enough to lift it's power supply. A tethered flying machine is not very useful, and we have cranes that are much more efficient at lifting things. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi Simon, What will make a power supply strong enough for a lifter made out of balsa wood and aluminum and copper wire. Thanks Again Matt | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
If you want to know more about the lifter, talk to this guy: Jean-Louis Naudin | ||
| Gregory |
I am a clueless 12 year old who loves your site and was wondering how to solder. I need to solder the parts of the AM transmitter and I have never soldered before, please help me. Thank You | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
There are some good sites on the web, such as this one, or this one. The AM transmitter doesn't actually need to be soldered. But soldering the connections will make them stand up better to the abuse they get at a science fair. Soldering can be a lot of fun. My daughter loved learning how -- she loved to melt the solder. She was a little younger than you are, but I think you'll enjoy it as well. Practice with some junk wire for a bit, then dive right in. The instructions make it sound more difficult than it is -- the AM transmitter is forgiving of many soldering mistakes. Just go for it! | ||
| Gregory |
Thank you VERY MUCH | ||
| Leonardo |
Hi I'm having a problem building the laser comunicator to be specific in the recivier part, the problem is that we (others friends are helping me to build the project) use the solar cells so we imagine that is the problem, we tested two but when we try to make contact there is no sound coming from the stereo, they think it could be or the laser that it isn't producing enough enrgy to make the voltage or could be solar cell, the first part we have it as you describe it but the second is where we are stucked anyway we will try to do it if we find with te photoresistor but we are afraid that it will be the same. Could you give us an explanation of what's hapeninnig or what part did we get wrong. | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
First test the receiver using a fluorescent light or a computer monitor or TV screen. All of these light sources flicker very quickly, and you can hear the sounds by holding the solar cell close to one of them. This will let you know if there is a problem with your receiver. Once you have a receiver that works, you can test the transmitter. | ||
| Simon Quellen Field (Sfield) |
It also may be that you are connecting the solar cell to the wrong input of your stereo. It needs to connect to a "high impedance" input, such as the "phono" input. Inputs designed for devices that produce lots of power will not work. A phonograph produces only a tiny amount of power, and the stereo knows to amplify that signal more than the signal from auxilliary devices or tape decks. | ||
| ALAA Y OKASHA |
DEAR SIR: COULD YOU HELP ME IN CONSTRUCTING A SMALL PLANE WHICH WILL REALY FLY OVER EVEN FOR A SMALL ALTITUDE BUT USING A SMALL RECORDER MOTOR AND SOME BATTERIES. TANKS A LOT SORRY FOR MY BAD ENGLISH LANGUAGE. | ||
| James Lee (Necrofear) Intermediate Member Username: Necrofear Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2006 |
The small plane... describe to me how you are going to make the plane like are going to use cardboard or what??? The batteries will make more weight go on the plane so we need to know what the plane will be made up of |
