Egg-O-Naut C

[cypressfalls Robert]

that means higher rockets, more parachutes lost

Even though this would be a very bad idea; would weighing down the parachutes (other than the egg/egg capsule) help it descend faster rather than having to lose it to the wind? Like weights on the canopy of the parachute, where you attach the strings or close to the sides of the chute.

[andrewwski]

Acceleration due to gravity is constant (9.81 m/s^2) for all objects. Since you're not changing the aerodynamic profile of the rocket, you're not really changing the amount of air resistance on it. Thus, the answer should be no.

However, if you catch an updraft, the lighter the object, the more effect the updraft will have.

[nejanimb]

I totally disagree. Andrewwski, what you said in the second part proves just why having a heavier object would make it descend faster.

Acceleration due to gravity may be constant, but the downward force (ie: its weight) exerted by an object does increase when you use a more massive object. The reason the egg and its parachute don't drop according to free fall with simple 9.8m/s acceleration is the parachute catches enough air so that air resistance exerts an upward force to slow the descent.

Like you said - adding weights doesn't change the aerodynamic properties really, so the amount of upward force should stay the same (well, as it goes faster it'll go up a bit, but we'll say relatively constant). However, by increasing the mass, you increase the downward force significantly, so the parachute/egg will accelerate at a rate closer to that 9.8m/s free fall. This, I feel, is how you'd expect to see it naturally. Andrewwski, did I miss part of the question or analysis?

I think if you're trying to bring your parachute back to earth more quickly to avoid wind/tree issues but still want to maintain the same properties of flight, you ought to simply use a heavier object in place of the egg. This will absolutely make the contraption come down more quickly. Trying to weight down the parachute itself, I feel, wouldn't give you quite as accurate a picture of how the rocket would fly.

[rocketman1555]

You could just make it so the parachute can't deploy properly so it won't actually unfold. This would work to test the egg separation system, but not parachute packing methods.

[starpug]

You could just make it so the parachute can't deploy properly so it won't actually unfold. This would work to test the egg separation system, but not parachute packing methods.

I believe the procedure for that is clipping Parachute ends together, Correct?

[rocketman1555]

Clipping the ends together works. You can also just put a rubber band around the middle of the parachute after you fold it so that it can't unfold.

[seoliver]

I've heard that the rules are set and printed, and that mailings are in progress, but I haven't seen a book yet. Does anybody have the final rule updates for this year's egg-o-naut?

[Paradox21]

I've heard that the rules are set and printed, and that mailings are in progress, but I haven't seen a book yet. Does anybody have the final rule updates for this year's egg-o-naut?

I am expecting to get a rules packet tomorrow or Friday. I heard that Michigan already shipped out their rule packets. We ordered one ourselves because we are expecting our state (not Michigan) to be kind of slow in getting the rules distributed.

[ktrujillo52]

My rules came in today!

Okay well the major changes are that the pressure vessel is to be made out of a 2-liter bottle and that it is to be pressurized to 75psi.

I will probably start building next week, good luck to everyone this season!

[starpug]

My rules came in today!

Okay well the major changes are that the pressure vessel is to be made out of a 2-liter bottle and that it is to be pressurized to 75psi.

I will probably start building next week, good luck to everyone this season!

Thank you, seems that we were correct in assuming it would be 2-liters. This should be interesting, we are likely to see increased times because of the increase in bottle size and pressure.