How to make an Ion Thruster

[@tzq33tdq]

"I haven't checked the regulations, so I don't know how many rules I'm breaking" you sir, have gained a sub

[@NotSoSylent]

"I don't think it would kill you because it didn't kill me when I touched it" Science.

[@milkhbox]

Not sure this is the definition of applied science, but it makes for good entertainment! XD

[@flamingmoose1479]

That's pretty much how science has worked since the beginning of humanity.

[@HelpingHorders]

#probably

[@jackwitchalls1355]

#famouslastwords

[@BoWeava]

Trystan ...the 'that's what she said' setup is just tooo easy.

[@rickyriccoboni2745]

I've been trying to build most of these projects from scratch until I found your Keystone Science page. It's so hard for me to find good information on this and you speak a language I understand. You remind me of the best instructor I've ever had when I was still a student. I trust the information I gathered from him more than I do any other today. You really are a life saver. Thank you so much for all the HELP! -Ricky Riccoboni

[@saiaarathibondada128]

Did you try this

[@EpicLokvanji]

1. Get a big power source (2heavyforit) 2. Use more thrusters 3. It can get a bit of speed 4. Add more 5. Stand on it fly at 0.1m per second

[@ruffusgoodman4137]

At the cost of some meaningless Gigawatts...

[@pingell11]

this is slowly turning into a Saturday morning education show but with tazers

[@RadiantFeline]

angry monster and casual small fires.

[@motzumoto1055]

alterfalstaff very much yes

[@nobodyisbetter5411]

angry monster not for me. Friday night education. Yayayayayay. Imaa gonna start school soon so imma sub to this smartass

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

It's been 40+ years since I had Physics & Chem - this kinda brought back memories, but blew my mind!!

[@poppabloodvessel7072]

"law breaking is probably bad, so don't do it" lol

[@Starbuck.Laniakea]

PoppaBloodVessel only if ya care

[@luongmaihunggia]

"Probably bad"

[@KalcuttaPro]

Nice

[@luger9857]

Mmmkay??

[@GibbonFan]

It's good to live on what you think is right

[@jancerny7831]

The Nikola Tesla art behind you is awesome

[@KeystoneScience]

+Jan Černý thanks!

[@tek4]

This is where @codyslab codydon should be keen to do a collab and it would be epic

[@zachantes1161]

tek413 Just curious, do you pronounce it like ca-lad or c-oh-lab? With a hard or soft o?

[@billybrandt355]

It's not one word it's cody's lab

[@mikeyfreeman5776]

it's Cody slab

[@EwenHeaton]

This is the first video of his that I've seen, but I like that he explains almost everything he says instead of what a lot of people do with just assuming you know what they're talking about

[@cfjruth]

I'm just waiting for the day when you show us how to make a warp drive. I learn more from this channel than any other on KZbin.

[@fpv568]

I learned something new. Thanks!

[@spyrosgeorgakos5120]

You deserve way more subs

[@1TW1-m5i]

"How to make an ion thruster" *device catches fire* *burns self* *high voltage, so this could kill You* "actually, don't make an ion thruster without training"

[@indiephunq698]

"Exenon?" Xenon is actually pronounced "Zenon."

[@mp2jimmay]

Have you built an ion thruster?

[@ethanwild3301]

@@mp2jimmay no, no he has not.

[@joker_g7337]

@@ethanwild3301 no? He has built a thruster that moves ions.

[@gazs7237]

7:13 for those who have no idea what he is expaining. your welcome

[@richardalvis756]

Im from the deep south. You think you could exlaine this using biscuits, gravy and grits?

[@bhaskardeb8342]

The candle blew off was the best part.. nice presentation bro

[@longde9968]

Now that I've watched for a third time... Great video. I honestly can't wait for the next video. I hope I can get my videos to this level!

[@DirtyDuckofDoom]

I learned more from you in less time than an entire year in honors chemistry

[@ClaudiniGod]

An American measuring with centimetres. Wait, what? You got a like and a new subscriber. Nice videos!

[@METALIC360]

I figured it out I'm going to be Rich thank you for solving the puzzle

[@niliyatspartan3011]

eric rivera how rich and which richness is determined by your Richards.

[@zachantes1161]

Modren Dimetrodon You should update your profile picture, to match the current idea of what dimetrodon looks like, also, you're banner is freaking amazing.

[@sterlingdunham8026]

I'd love to be considered for the giveaway! You talk about things that are so boring in a classroom environment, and you make them fun and awesome. Thank you.

[@justinosss2]

this is really cool didn't know there were model ion thrusters!

[@World_Theory]

Putting the lit candle next to the thruster was a good idea. It gave me a much better idea of the air flow being produced; which was quite a lot!

[@alexfinch4960]

"Law breaking is probably bad, so probably don't do it" Cracks me up

[@JohnMorley1]

Where I live, everything is illegal. Forget about a screwdriver in your pocket when you go out and you could have problems if it is found in a search. The mentality of people in the UK is really bad. I was suggesting making a model rocket the other day and my freind imediately started thinking up reasons why it probably isn't legal. He just couldn't imagine my being allowed to make a rocket. The sad thing is, he is probably right about it being illegal.

[@daplinko3433]

Do you have a degree or self taught

[@MikeysLab]

"I strongly feel that self education, is the only true form of education" - Asimov

[@daplinko3433]

Mikey's Lab amazing quote most of my knowledge in building things has been self taught or shown to me the schools cant/wont teach you any thing like creativity even in courses where creativity is the best like art or music they just get you to paint/play something someone else created

[@MikeysLab]

Agreed, I have a "traditional" education in software development, and have never used anything they taught me in my 10 years of professional development :)

[@daplinko3433]

Mikey's Lab and let me guess lol they made you pay a shit ton for a shit ton of nothing lol

[@91722854]

exactly and curiosity is the pure motivation required, not money, nor a place at university.

[@RyanTheHammer]

I always wanted to try bulding a desktop fan out of these

[@zomon3333]

That would probably end bad.... Maybe it's the whole "High voltage exposed wires" thing, or maybe it's the "I have oxygen ions flying around my desk" thing, but it still sounds bad. I would imagine having ions getting close to a computer probably wouldn't be preferable, either, because electricity. Judging by the fact you're commenting on youtube you likely have one of those little black boxes of circuitry and tech-wizard magic.

[@regular4634]

Trust me, you don't want ionized air around you

[@MutableReference]

this channel is amazing! this is what I call quality content!

[@KeystoneScience]

+TetraJeopardize awe thanks :)

[@zaiso23]

I'm really impressed! I never thought this would actually produce such an extreme thrust :o

[@wubzo45959]

A giveaway? Hooray. Congrats on being sponsored!

[@KeystoneScience]

+Jacob Rogers haha thanks

[@Starbuck.Laniakea]

Very well done. You caught me up in much of my younger education

[@itsthelampdog7382]

I appreciated the crash course in atoms, needed that refresher!

[@spartan456]

Nathan's true nature finally revealed. He's actually an alien. When will we get the episode on building our own spacecraft capable of reaching escape velocity?

[@123qwe321ify]

Thanks for the great videos man, heard about you a while ago from another youtuber and can't get enough of your videos informative, descriptive, educational and awesome

[@KeystoneScience]

+Sir Penguin thank you :)

[@jayantverma2959]

can i use a pule arc generator as the power supply?

[@salabs4222]

This right here is part of my project bro it's building the wave links and feeding them into the thruster so you control how fast you go

[@Dragonmastur24]

Great vid! It would be great if you could make a high-voltage rectifier bridge made from household materials! Taht way we can all use our neon sign transformers to make this!! If you do, you should look up mercury vapor rectifiers, these are what Tesla used in big elevators that had Edison motors in them. I am sure you can make something analogous to it with carbon from a pencil and maybe salt water or, even hacking four small florescent lamps! It would be great to see what you come up with!

[@lukewilliams8548]

Thanks for the lesson on ion thrusters! I want to be in that giveaway, an oscilloscope would be very helpful.

[@capri2wd]

Awesome science, who would have thought those tiny electrons/ions had so much energy! A chance to win a scope is also awesome :)

[@keshavkrishnakumar1749]

how much dc voltage are you supplying for this?

[@my.luminaire]

Very cool. I wasn aware that U can make it work so simply :) Best video on YT Ive seen in a while. Thanks!

[@KeystoneScience]

+Mladen Lončarić thank you!

[@alekm6057]

Awesome Stuff man! Amazing and enlightening.

[@theterribleanimator1793]

A POSITIVE CHARGE ON AN OXIGEN ATOM? HERESY! - a fellow amateour chemist

[@einsteinisawesome9554]

sure! I wouldn't mind being in the give away. Honestly keystone science your videos are incredibly intriguing and educational. like if you agree! ignore if you don't

[@facebotter]

What if I acknowledge you without liking?

[@_JS96]

^ Anarchy

[@einsteinisawesome9554]

then you're are not ignoring me, yet don't agree with the comment.

[@facebotter]

EinsteinIsAwesome you told me to like if I agree, but if I don't agree I should ignore. Therefore, if I acknowledge you (rather than ignoring) but I don't like your comment, it seems I exist in a state of limbo between both worlds. I become something impossible for your argument to define. I believe the logic you set up contained one too many errors, and my intellectual expertise found that error and destroyed your entire KZbin comment.

[@einsteinisawesome9554]

Facebotter all it implies is that you don't agree with the comment, you weren't obligated to ignore yet to exist in agreement with the statement you have to like the comment therefore proving a flaw in your evaluation. considering the fact that one can not exist with the other forcing you into the specified state

[@kens97sto171]

Great video.. I used to see these all the time . Called Lifters.. people made some absolutely massive versions . Several feet across worth complex shapes Always seemed like the more simple ones like this we're stronger lift.. Many people used the flyback coils from old CRT monitors.. which were super common in the garbage at the time.. as LCDs were taking over .

[@KraussEMUS1]

Only the one shown on the website to the left though can carry its power supply onboard. it took a huge increase in power to weight ratio to do it! Please click on the purple channel icon to see 5 prototypes.

[@TommyCallaway]

Great work Nate!

[@KeystoneScience]

+Tommy Callaway thanks tommy!

[@panther105]

If nothing catches on fire, then no thumbs up.....

[@arefasgari8484]

you have a great channel I am an electronics student and really like your job 👍👍

[@KeystoneScience]

+Aref Asgari thanks :)

[@Nate.mp4]

Alright. Now make a hoverboard using in prupolsion. :)

[@zachantes1161]

Nate The power source would be too heavy

[@TheUberman666]

That's what I plan on in the future.

[@Ziggenvox]

you would need to ionize a volume of air to displace your body weight. That would be an incredibly energy intensive task.

[@alice_in_wonderland42]

you will also need a power station lol

[@Ziggenvox]

@@alice_in_wonderland42 theoretically you could create a flying machine with no onboard power. Radars have had 80% transmission efficiency for 60 years. These days a 5g antenna can remotely power electronics and interface with your nervous system.

[@Lee_B_Futures]

Yes! new vid! bout time, lol... I smile when I see your vids come up in my feed :)

[@jacxgaming1107]

Hey this is the first vid of yours I watched and with in the first 1 min 30 I liked and subbed

[@Artemis-zl5cs]

thank you for my next science fair project

[@markvaldez5481]

My brother~ ive cant even explain that to them, im so happy for you tell me if their is anything i can do to help assist anything realy. Im here available. I owe u just for explaing what i wished i could explain to people when im building my projects. Love ur channel i fully subscribed and hit notification's💯👍

[@amicklich6729]

Very cool. Keep up the good work bro.

[@draftartmart8069]

Always wanted to make one thanks for showing.

[@amyshaw893]

Greetings from Britain! Lost me a bit at the shell stuff, but I'm taking physics A-level next year so I should understand it better then

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Excellent demonstration and explanation - really enjoyed it - If I can say, don't forget your units when you mention the charge on the electron but I guess it does not detract from the general enjoyment.

[@jaishetty8586]

That was impressive thrust.

[@Josez13100]

My goal for this year is to build a tesla generator, I wanted to know if you would be able to demonstrate how to build it.

[@Willeexd1337]

bryant zuzuarregui a Tesla coil?

[@andressanchezblanco2]

Willeexd tesla generator , not tesla coil

[@andressanchezblanco2]

Willeexd its actually easy to make one

[@WimsicleStranger]

Consumer 999 Doesn't work because it's impossible to create a 'free energy' device. Tesla is a sham.

[@coenogo]

WimsicleStranger Interesting... Since I already made one years ago, which generated energy. Not a lot, but it was only a miniature with a tiny dish, so I wasn't expecting much.

[@puddin_orc]

Enjoyed the fire! Will be waiting for the next video!

[@dp0813]

First, thanks for making these videos, I thoroughly enjoy them! II my question occurs around 5 minutes in your video during your explanation of how the ion thrust is created. Specifically, I'm assuming that electrons are also missing the positive pole when they go zooming across to the left . If so, Why do more electrons miss the negative pole than the positive Pole when zooming across to the right? If my assumption is wrong, then why aren't electrons missing the positive pole when they Zoom across to the left?

[@crazyirishman121]

Awesome Video Man !!

[@lewiguitar445]

Roughly how high of a voltage source would you say is required to create similar results? ... asking for a friend *ahem*

[@compressorhead02]

Your videos are so interesting and I learn so much thank you for this amazing content!

[@wasabipickle892]

Thanks, great video. Wanted to make one for a while. Also, great explanation.

[@AngeloXification]

Now this is Premium quality KZbin

[@bVb65Pc4gRd2Z0yCcyZvyQVtm]

This video was sick!

[@joker_g7337]

I remember trying to build a "lifter" 15-20 years ago. I failed at the power supply.

[@noalear]

I'm new to your channel, but this was pretty cool. I imagine if you wanted to increase the thrust you'd need more voltage, large gap, more materials, and then it wouldn't fly? If that's the case.. How small can you make these? I'm thinking microdrones powered by a Tesla?

[@ultragames007]

nice, I just keep learning new cool stuff with this channel . Also it would be nice to have an oscilloscope for projects

[@daveshakibanasab7992]

How many volts did you run through it?

[@KeystoneScience]

+Dave Shakibanasab probably 40kv

[@daveshakibanasab7992]

Thanks Brother! I"m an electrical engineering student KSU and I love your videos!

[@brunopernar4813]

Can 40kv kill you? I thought even 2 kv can kill you

[@jort93z]

any voltage can kill you. even 200 volts can kill you. what matters is the current that flows through your body. of course the current is related to the voltage but i do not assume that glove provides a very high current while your 200 volt AC wall socket will provide lots of current with no problems. then it just depends on how well your body conducts to earth. But i do not assume he was earthed very well (wearing socks or even shoes on non conductive floor) so there would likely be practically no current flow through the body to ground. if people die from shocks its mostly because they touch something with their other hand(like a railing).

[@spartan456]

It absolutely can, but what kills you is ultimately the amount of energy, which is a product of voltage, current, and time. I'm sure you've heard "it's not the voltage that kills you, it's the amps!", and this is an age-old saying that really doesn't make any sense. It's energy that kills you, not one specific thing. This saying is really similar to "guns don't kill people, people kill people!". More specifically, think of a bullet as current and the gun that fires it as the voltage. A bullet all by its lonesome won't kill someone. But load it in a gun and fire it, and you have something that can absolutely kill. In this case, the gun is the voltage, the bullet is the current. You can't have current without voltage, much like how you can't fire a bullet without a gun. In general...I would say higher voltage is substantially more dangerous to work with, but it greatly depends on what precautions you've taken. The amount of current flowing through a system will be determined by the resistance, and every human body functions as a very large resistor (at the very least, the skin does). If you want to deliver more current to a fixed resistance, you need to increase the voltage. In other words, as voltage increases, current being delivered into the system increases as well because the increased voltage can overcome the resistance. However, there are some important caveats to consider here. Any power supply you create is going to be 100% dependent on your wall socket. Wall sockets output 120V/220V AC. They also have a lot of potential current behind them. This is why sticking a fork in a power outlet is a really bad idea, because even 120V is capable of breaking down the resistance of your skin under the right conditions. So...how do you get more volts out of your wall? You transform it. But, when you transform electricity, you are overall losing potential energy. Take a boost converter, for example. You can reach thousands of kV with one you make yourself, all running off of your wall socket. But what you gain in voltage, you lose in potential current. Think of it like conservation of energy. The current potential drops because you are still ultimately limited by the source. Plus there's also general inefficiencies with voltage transformations, no system is perfect, and any lost current from a result of stepping up a voltage is dissipated as heat. Transformers literally transform the energy. They aren't spontaneously creating more out of very little, it's just changing the form of the energy and turning it into something different. They alter the ratio of voltage to current. The energy loss is due to efficiency in the transformation process. In a perfect world, you'd still have the same current as the source, but we do not live in a perfect world. As Nathan stated, the most it did was burn him. Of course, you wouldn't want to touch something like the plasma wave from a Jacob's Ladder (not if you like having skin on your hand), but once you hit crazy high voltages, even if the current is limited to microamps, it will burn you long before it electrocutes you. There are also some other factors to consider like the frequency of the electricity, especially in the case of arcs from things like tesla coils. Take something simple like an Arc Lighter. This is a commercial product, and I've heard people yell it's illegal because it is a taser. This is untrue. Tasers deliver upwards of thousands of volts at a constant rate due to the constant charging and discharging of the electrodes. An Arc Lighter is fundamentally different. You need a lot of initial voltage to ionize the air between the two electrodes, but once it's ionized, the voltage needed to sustain it drops substantially. Keep in mind, these are things that run off of 3.8v lithium ion batteries. The voltage needed to run it drops because an arc of electricity between two electrodes is literally a wire created by plasma. Since the breakdown of the air has already occurred and a clear, low resistance path has been established to the other side of the circuit by ionizing the air, less voltage is needed to keep it there. Touching the arcs from a commercial Arc Lighter will, at most, burn you. It stings and burns more than it electrifies. I would know, I've touched the arcs on mine several times. Of course, it burns far more than waving your hand over a traditional flame lighter because you are literally touching blazing hot plasma. It's no different when touching a piece of metal charged to 40kV. It won't naturally arc to your skin unless you get real close to it, and even then, you might have to give it some encouragement by touching it. Upon contact, if you pull your hand away, there will be an arc of plasma for a very short period of time, but it's enough to singe your skin and make it smell like burning flesh. And it stings.

[@ochardgaming124]

I found this channel from backyard scientists I'm 3:25 seconds in and so confused (first video I've watched on this channel) I am only 13 but I'm just so confused but great channel keep it up

[@zackschumacher6741]

could I make a bigger version of this if I used like sheet metal and 2x4s and some car batteries

[@brianhutchinson5139]

If the voltage is high enough technically speaking yes. And to the comment of it would only work in a vacuum he would need to add a fuel of gases in earth's atmosphere he would be fine if you had enough power.

[@Thebigmanmetaldetecting]

Excellent video I built one of theses years ago great fun

[@NightHawk11991]

Greatings from Germany Nice video :) Hope you have a nice day.

[@braedanricketts5139]

And the award for "Most creative use of a bowling pin." goes to...."Keystone Science!"

[@KraussEMUS1]

Here is as very similar device but with lots of improvements, that can lift its power supply into the air!... You can click on the purple icon to the left to see it fly and how to build it.

[@iabusemyfish6864]

this is the future of space travel lol cant believe it works

[@WildfoxFabrication]

im confused where do you just get a bowling pin from

[@blakdeth77]

I had no idea this was so simple to implement! Or... at least you make it seem that way! lol

[@asariusdoteth]

wondering if patents would be a barrier to mass producing personal space vehicles with this tech :D also grats on sponsorship. been watching your channel for a couple years now and ive learned a great deal from you. ill take part in your give away .

[@akinoz]

I am here since 133K subscribers.

[@EpicLokvanji]

Nobody cares.

[@ReidCaptain]

A giveaway sounds cool.

[@bhu1334]

finally I had requested for this video a long time ago nate you said that the lifter crashed into your power supply but thanks

[@KeystoneScience]

+BHU1 LORD yeah! It did :( that first one broke my first power supply xD so I was a bit iffy on trying another

[@ArdentForest_0]

Thank you for the video.

[@KeystoneScience]

+Garth Wormington thank you for watching! :)

[@patrickmckenzie4242]

Make a three phase electric motor. Also if you could show what the differences between single and three phase motors. I really like your videos.

[@Ziggenvox]

this is a great channel

[@exonvidz9094]

9:47 why is the scope showing a sine wave if you are using dc?

[@DarrenDIY]

Oh finally i wanted to do this since ever

[@KeystoneScience]

+Darren DIY yay :D

[@DarrenDIY]

Thanks for doing this video because i saw this on kreosan but it is not well explained so 👍👍

[@KeystoneScience]

+Darren DIY no problem, and yeah I hear a lot about kreosan, but I haven't looked him up yet, perhaps I should

[@DarrenDIY]

Keystone Science trust me check em out theyre ukranian crazy electricians

[@RDLondon2023]

I love you measure in cm way more workable!!!

[@charlesdavis9937]

Does it work in a vacuum environment?

[@madhusudhan2224]

pocket oscilloscopes??? yes please 😍

[@sideamihaicristian6202]

Very nice. Thank you. You rock. Something about coils in the future..?

[@Travelbeatcreations.official]

I like *ADVENTURE,* and if I get so far as to create "something" that can take me up and through space, this is what I want to focus on. I would also focus on creating a vessel that could utilize biological means in a never ending circle, from groving plants to utillize the waste for energy. It would also be nice to have scientists onboard that can create bioreactive solar panels from the plants. No limits to my imagination, but I really need to get on with this!

[@gillesgeorges5539]

will this work with an 1000kv boost converter?

[@rubis5153]

Super... you made it perfect

[@danielhastings1705]

Is the power supply outputing AC or DC

[@HomeGrownPyrotechnics]

why do you say ex-xenon? its pronounced zee-non

[@NickCombs]

to annoy you

[@KingJellyfishII]

no it is pronounced ze-non unless you are in America, then it is zee-non

[@HomeGrownPyrotechnics]

James Kitching well I looked up the pronunciation and thats what came up

[@Plant_Parenthood]

James Kitching in Canada it is zed-non

[@cornslayer5541]

Phil Weatherley yeah, having a dialect makes someone unintelligent. Fuck off guy.

[@ernestosaboia]

Nice video. You have a vacuum chamber, right? It is nice to demonstrate that the ion trust is not a anti-gravity machine. Oh yeah, can you include me on the drawing?