Science fair gets a fiery addition
A Dunedin secondary school student is planning on making a speedy modification to his go-kart by strapping his science fair project to it.
John McGlashan College student Oscar Kissell, 13, made a pulsejet engine from scratch for the Aurora Energy Science and Technology Fair this year.
A pulsejet engine is simple jet engine which produces thrust through a series of pulsating explosions rather than the usual continuous combustion.
Oscar said he liked engines and how they worked and thought it would be fun to make one.
When he told his father about his idea, his dad loved it and helped him weld exhaust pipes they found on Trade Me, he said.
The pulsejet had not been tested on a moving vehicle yet, but after the science fair, Oscar was planning on strapping it to a push go-kart his grandfather had built for him.
The pulsejet fired up.
"It might actually require two to get going, or three or four maybe."
He was not scared of any mishaps.
He wanted to become a pilot when he was older, Oscar said.
This year, the science fair had about 280 entries from years 7-13 students from schools across Otago.
The entries are on display at Tūhura Otago Museum until Sunday.
mark.john@odt.co.nz
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