Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 279 views

    Catapult Lab Report

    Uploaded by

    api-398368959
    The group designed and built a marshmallow catapult to hit targets at various distances. They collected data on the relationship between the height of the catapult arm and the distance traveled by the projectile. Using this data, they derived equations to calculate the velocity and angle needed to hit targets at specific distances. Their best shot landed within 1 centimeter of the target at 5.5 meters, but did not fully hit it. Minor issues with the rubber bands affected the results.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Catapult Lab Report

    Uploaded by

    api-398368959
    279 views6 pages
    The group designed and built a marshmallow catapult to hit targets at various distances. They collected data on the relationship between the height of the catapult arm and the distance traveled by the projectile. Using this data, they derived equations to calculate the velocity and angle needed to hit targets at specific distances. Their best shot landed within 1 centimeter of the target at 5.5 meters, but did not fully hit it. Minor issues with the rubber bands affected the results.

    Original Title

    catapult lab report

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The group designed and built a marshmallow catapult to hit targets at various distances. They collected data on the relationship between the height of the catapult arm and the distance traveled by the projectile. Using this data, they derived equations to calculate the velocity and angle needed to hit targets at specific distances. Their best shot landed within 1 centimeter of the target at 5.5 meters, but did not fully hit it. Minor issues with the rubber bands affected the results.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    279 views6 pages

    Catapult Lab Report

    Uploaded by

    api-398368959
    The group designed and built a marshmallow catapult to hit targets at various distances. They collected data on the relationship between the height of the catapult arm and the distance traveled by the projectile. Using this data, they derived equations to calculate the velocity and angle needed to hit targets at specific distances. Their best shot landed within 1 centimeter of the target at 5.5 meters, but did not fully hit it. Minor issues with the rubber bands affected the results.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 6

    Catapult Project

    “Fling Queens”

    Jenna Bohr, Meredith Hopkins, Kirsten Krause, & Julia Rutkowski


    November 6, 2017
    G/H Block
    Marshmallow Catapult

    Introduction:
    A catapult is a​ ​“device in which accumulated tension is suddenly released to hurl an
    object some distance” that uses potential (stored) energy as its power to launch projectiles. The
    only force acting upon the projectile fired from the catapult is gravity, which has a known value
    of -9.8 m/s². This means that when a projectile is fired, it will have both horizontal and vertical
    velocity, resulting in a shape that generally looks like an arch. The horizontal velocity of a
    projectile fired from a catapult remains constant throughout its flight time, assuming negligence
    of air resistance. When a catapult is fired, the projectile will also have vertical and horizontal
    components of its motion that can be determined by the initial velocity and angle (direction) of
    the projectile.
    The purpose of this investigation is to adjust the initial velocity and/or angle (direction)
    from which a projectile (in this case, a marshmallow) is fired from a catapult in order to
    accurately hit a target at a given distance. In order to do this, our group will use collected data
    that compares the distance the arm of the catapult was from the ground (when pulled back) to the
    distance the marshmallow was launched, to determine approximately how far the arm of the
    catapult should be from the ground to fire the marshmallow the desired distance. The goal is to
    hit the target in any area within two shots, and to hit the bullseye of the target within four shots.

    Methodology:
    First, two different types of wood were acquired. A sample catapult was printed from the
    internet. The dimensions on the image were multiplied by four to reach the full size dimensions.
    The base was cut to the proper length and assembled together without being drilled yet. On the
    longer sides of the base towards one end, holes were drilled in the wood to place the bar in which
    the arm pivots on. The arm was cut with a drilled hole and slipped onto the bar. Then the upright
    fixtures were cut and assembled. Once each piece was in the desired spot, it was all drilled
    together. Three rubber bands in each direction were assembled to the front base of the catapult. A
    tennis ball was cut in half and drilled to the arm to be used as the holder for the projectile. After
    testing the catapult a few times, two rubber bands were taken off to create a stronger tension with
    the arm. In addition, a stiff foam bar was added to the front of the arm to allow the projectile to
    be released at approximately 45°.
    Results:

    Firing distance of approx. 3 meters:


    Trial # ΔX (meters) t (seconds)

    1 3.0m .56s

    2 3.3m .60s

    3 3.4m .58s

    4 3.5m .61s
    Average Time: .59 seconds

    Firing distance of approx. 5 meters:


    Trial # ΔX (meters) t (seconds)

    1 5.1m .73s

    2 5.4m .88s

    3 5.0m .78s

    4 5.3m .83s
    Average Time: .81 seconds

    Firing distance of approx. 7 meters:


    Trial # ΔX (meters) t (seconds)

    1 6.8m 1.32s

    2 7.3m 1.03s

    3 6.8m 1.20s

    4 7.2m 1.29s
    Average Time: 1.21 seconds
    Discussion and Analysis:

    Line of best fit: ​y = -2.91286x + 27.9074


    Variables:
    X = height of the arm in centimeters from the ground
    Y = horizontal distance projectile travels
    Calculations:
    Velocity and Angle at 3 meters:
    Vxo = 5.01 m/s
    Vyo = 2.9 m/s
    ΔX = 3 meters
    t = .59 seconds (.295 s at max height)
    Vy = 0 m/s (at max height)
    Vo = ​5.79 m/s
    θ = ​30.1⁰

    ΔX = Vxot Vy​ = Vyo + gt Vo = √(V xo)² + (V yo)²


    ΔX
    t
    = Vxo Vyo = -(gt) Vo = √(5.01)² + (2.9)²
    3
    .59
    = Vxo Vyo = - (-9.8 * .295) Vo = 5.79 m/s
    5.01 m/s = Vxo Vyo = 2.9 m/s

    θ = tan⁻¹( VV yo
    xo
    )
    2.9
    θ = tan⁻¹( 5.01 )
    θ =​ 30.1⁰

    Velocity and Angle at 10 meters


    Vxo = ​5.43 m/s
    Vyo = ​9.02 m/s
    ΔX = 10 meters
    t = 1.84 seconds (.92s at max height)
    Vy = 0 m/s (at max height)
    Vo = ​10.53 m/s
    θ = ​58.95⁰

    ΔX = Vxot Vy​ = Vyo + gt Vo = √(V xo)² + (V yo)²


    ΔX
    t
    = Vxo Vyo = -(gt) Vo = √(5.43)² + (9.02)²
    10
    1.84
    = Vxo Vyo = - (-9.8 * .92) Vo = 10.53 m/s
    5.43 m/s = Vxo Vyo =9.02 m/s

    θ = tan⁻¹( VV yo
    xo
    )
    θ = tan⁻¹( 9.02
    5.43
    )
    θ =​ 58.95⁰
    Conclusion:
    The catapult performed to the best of it’s ability but the marshmallow did not result in
    hitting the target, although bouncing very closely outside the final ring (about 1 centimeter
    away). The marshmallow was touching the rim of the cardboard target but where it landed could
    not qualify as landing on the target itself. The catapult fired the marshmallow and the arch that
    was made did not fly straight which caused a minor flaw in the results of the competition.
    Without flying straight, the marshmallow could not have landed on the expected spot on the
    large, cardboard target. This group used the equation stated in the discussion and analysis
    section, ​y = -2.91286x + 27.9074​,​ ​but after Mr.Nelson determined the distance at which the
    catapult would be from the target, the x variable was replaced with the distance of 5.5 meters.
    The distance in which the projectile needs to be fire in meters resembles x, that gives a y output
    of how high the arm of the catapult should be off the ground in centimeters. A minor flaw in the
    catapult design was using the rubber bands. Since they get stretched out, they lose tension and
    slightly affect the distance traveled of the projectile. The rubber bands were placed back on the
    morning of, in order to regain their strong elasticity. The tension may have been stronger than
    when the catapult was tested for measurements. Therefore, there was a slight overshoot in the
    first two attempts.The arm needed to be lowered to 11.9 centimeters before firing the catapult to
    hit the target that was 5.5 meters away.

    Works Cited:

    “Characteristics of a Projectile's Trajectory.” ​The Physics Classroom​, 2017,


    www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors/Lesson-2/Characteristics-of-a-Projectile-s-Traj
    ectory.

    You might also like