CO2 dragster

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title: "CO2 dragster" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["drag-racing-cars"] description: "Miniature car propelled by carbon dioxide" topic_path: "general/drag-racing-cars" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CO2_dragster" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Miniature car propelled by carbon dioxide ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/CO2_Dragster_wooden_car.jpg" caption="Rear view of a "rail"-style dragster, with external wheels. The hollow container for the carbon dioxide cartridge can be seen towards the rear of the car."] ::

CO2 dragsters are cars used as miniature racing cars which are propelled by a carbon dioxide cartridge, pierced to start the release of the gas, and which race on a typically 60 ft track. They are frequently used to demonstrate mechanical principles such as mass, force, acceleration, and aerodynamics. Two hooks (eyelets or screw eyes) linked to a string (usually monofilament fishing line) on the bottom of the car prevent the vehicle from losing control during launch. In a race, a laser scanner records the speed of the car at the end of its run. Often, the dragster is carved out of balsa wood because of its light weight and cheapness.

CO2 cars are a part of engineering curricula in parts of the world such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States. In the United States, classroom projects and competitions can operate under the aegis of the Technology Student Association at middle school and high school levels.{{cite web|title=High School Competitions|url=http://www.tsaweb.org/High-School-Competitions|publisher=Technology Student Association|location=Reston, VA

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/FirebirdIII_MockUp_5.jpg" caption="An unfinished "shell" dragster, with wheels enclosed within its body"] ::

References

References

1. (2010). "Reaching Boys, Teaching Boys: Strategies that Work -- and Why". [[Wiley & Sons]].
2. "What is CO2 Racing?". Science of Speed.
3. "Technology Student Association". DeWitt Middle School, Ithaca, NY.
4. (December 18, 2008). "Students design speedy dragsters". [[Thomson Reuters]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::