Outdoors Catapult By: Ben Wynett and Garrett Lusk

Purpose  Our objective was to build a catapult out of materials that you could typically find in the outdoors.

Materials  Thick sticks for the base and thin sticks for the legs  Masking tape  Thread and yarn  Scissors  Leaves  Rubber bands  Small rock  Life Saver gummy  Ping Pong ball

The Final Product Side Note: The red rubber bands serve as the catapult, and the orange yarn provides stability. Rubber bands Yarn for stability

Diagram Basket for projectile One of the four base structures One of four leg structures This is one of six joints. The joints are connected by yarn and masking tape. Launcher. What we pull back to launch projectile

Sample Launch Video This was not one of our best launches, in fact it was one of the first, but this can allow you a look into the basic mechanics of how it works.

Procedure 1.Gather necessary materials 2.Construct the base by using thread and tape 3.Connect the legs to the base by using thread and tape 4.Attach yarn to all of the joints to increase the structure 5.Place the rubber bands on the legs to prepare for the launching motion 6.Place our projectile on the catapult, launch it, then collect the data to predict our total kinetic and potential energy produced by the Catapult.

Data Collection  We launched 3 different objects: life saver, small rock, and a ping pong ball.  With these data, we will find the Kinetic and Potential energy using the equation: KE=1/2mv 2  Once we find the Kinetic Energy, we know that the Kinetic energy is equal to the Potential Energy, so once we know one we know the other.

Data ItemLaunch Degree Range of Flight Time of Flight MassVelocityKinetic Energy Small Rock 50 Degrees 5.3 meters2.15 seconds kg2.46 m/s.017 Joules LifeSaver Gummy 50 Degrees 2.3 meters1.61 seconds kg 1.43 m/s9.2x10 -4 Joules Ping Pong Ball 50 Degrees 2.03 meters 1.52 seconds kg1.34 m/s8.1x10 -5 Joules

Life Saver  Launch Angle: 50 degrees  Range of Flight: 5.3 meters  Time of Flight: 2.15 seconds  Mass:  KE=.017 Joules

Small rock  Launch Angle: 50 degrees  Range of Flight: 2.3 meters  Time of Flight: 1.61 seconds  Mass: kg  KE= 9.2x10 -4 Joules

Ping Pong Ball  Launch Angle: 50 degrees  Range of Flight: 2.03 meters  Time of Flight: 1.52 seconds  Mass: kg  KE= 8.1x10 -5 Joules

Analysis  Our objective was to figure out what the kinetic and potential energy would be if we launched 3 different objects: life saver gummy, small rock, and ping pong ball.  We used the equation: KE = ½ mv 2

Life Saver  KE = ½ (.00009)(2.52) 2  KE = 9.2x10 -4 Joules  The potential energy is equal to the kinetic energy  PE = 9.2x10 -4 Joules

Small Rock  KE = ½ (.00107)(1.43) 2  KE =.017 Joules  The potential energy is equal to the kinetic energy  PE =.017 Joules

Ping Pong Ball  KE = ½ (.00009)(1.34) 2  KE = 8.1x10 -5  The potential energy is equal to the kinetic energy  PE = 8.1x10 -5

Conclusion  We ultimately figured out how to make our catapult, and we were satisfied with our progress.  We faced many problems while we were working on our project: 1.We struggled with using materials out of the woods, so we had to resort to materials such as yarn and tape to connect the different parts together. 2.The basket that we made for placing the object into kept falling apart, so we had to reconstruct our basket a few times.

Bibliography  The only resource that we used was this YouTube video  Builds, Josh. "How to Make an Easy Catapult." YouTube. N.p., 7 Oct Web. 11 Dec