What is Black powder rocket motor?
A '''black powder rocket motor''' pushes a [[model rocket]] using [[black powder]]. Black powder in the rockets is made of [[charcoal]], sulphur, and [[potassium nitrate]]. The amount of each part can be changed to change how fast the black powder burns. The black powder burns very fast. The hot gases move fast as they leave the back of the rocket. This pushes the rocket forward. Black powder rocket motors were made in a simple form by the Chinese. They were first written about in the early 13th century. The rocket motors have gotten better over the years. They have several uses. Some can be used as weapons. Some have cameras to take pictures from a height to get information. Some are also used just for fun. Black powder rocket motors are only made in small sizes. If they are bigger there is a bigger chance of exploding. They also do not perform as well if they are bigger. They are made in different sizes called classes. The classes are 1/4 A through E. If the motor needs to be bigger than this, a different type of fuel is used. This is called a composite fuel. Some examples of composite fuels are [[ammonium perchlorate]] or [[ammonium nitrate]]. ==History== Black powder is the oldest type of mixed rocket fuel. It was used in rockets even before it was used in guns.<ref>Bedard, Andre. ‘Black Powder Rockets’. Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622111748/http://www.astronautix.com/ |date=2009-06-22 }}</ref> The three main parts of black powder are charcoal, sulphur, and saltpetre (or potassium nitrate). The Chinese were making black powder as early as 1045, which is about 1000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nichropulse.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=93&Itemid=115 |title=Nichropulse Rocketry |access-date=2011-12-20 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304233552/http://nichropulse.com/index.php?id=93&itemid=115&option=com_content |url-status=deviated |archivedate=2016-03-04 |archiveurl=https://we