How far can a marshmallow travel at different degree angles and air pressures?

Risk and Safety:

Chance of cannon exploding from condensed air, so wear safety goggles/glasses.

Data Table

Conclusion:

Once all of the tests were finished, there were various conclusions made from my analysis. It turns out that while going with the wind, the furthest a marshmallow will travel is around 100 feet at a 15 degree angle and 60 PSI. However, when a marshmallow is launched with the wind, it will reach distances of up 110 feet. The most effective angle and air pressure combination was a 23 degree angle and 60 PSI. My hypothesis was half accurate because 60 PSI will force a marshmallow to go the farthest, but a 23 degree angle is slightly more effective than a 25 degree angle and going with the wind assists in how far a marshmallow will travel. Overall, I personally believe that my project was accurate. The wind was truly the only major factor in my experiment since it prevented test 4 from traveling far, but it assisted in test 6 when it traveled its top distance. Other materials could be used for further experiments like superballs, and if the cannon was larger, it could be used to launch footballs. From this project, I have learned how compressed air plays a major role in everyday life. Compressed air can be found in tires, paintball guns, jackhammers, and even footballs, unless the football belongs to the New England Patriots, in which case it may have slightly less air pressure.

Abstract:

“Pop!” Goes the Cannon

Alan Rendzak

My Science Fair Project this year is constructing a marshmallow cannon and testing how far a marshmallow could travel at different degree angles and air pressures using compressed air. This topic was interesting to me because not only does it teach about how weather and other variables can change the outcome of the project, but it is also adds that extra bit of fun that other topics might not have included. I predicted that at a 25 degree angle using 60 PSI (pounds per square inch) while going against the wind, a marshmallow would travel its farthest distance at around 80 to 90 feet. I made this estimate because I knew that factors would change the outcome of my test, such as wind since it would go against the marshmallow at higher elevations, preventing it from traveling too far. I recognized that gravity would also determine how far a marshmallow would travel at lower degree angles.

After constructing the cannon (three pipes next to each other connected by corner and t-shaped pipes, one pipe on top of the center pipe, an electric solenoid valve connected to the lower, center pipe, and a pipe connected to the valve for launching), I took it outside for experimenting. Each angle and pressure was either tested with or against the wind. All of the marshmallows had baby powder on them to help slide them down the pipe since they had some resistance when placing them inside. Each test, except for the final one, was fired against the wind. At the end of each test, I measured the distance from where the marshmallow started in the cannon to where it originally impacted the ground. Then, I measured the distance that the marshmallow rolled from its original landing spot.

For test 1, my cannon was set at a 25 degree angle with 52 PSI going against the wind. When I fired the marshmallow, it traveled 74 feet and 6 inches. It then rolled 2 feet and 3 inches. Test 2 went even farther with a distance of 82 feet and 5 inches. It then rolled 1 foot and 4 inches. It was an odd outcome since I had the same degree angle and was still going against the wind but only 40 PSI which was less than the original air pressure. Test 3 went 87 feet and 8 inches and rolled 1 foot. For that test, I kept my cannon at the same angle with 60 PSI going into the wind. Test 4 flew a low of 73 feet and 9 inches, but rolled 5 feet though. Test 4 had been on a 30 degree angle with 55 PSI. The increased angle probably forced the marshmallow to get caught under the wind since I fired the marshmallow against the wind. Test 5 was the best going against the wind since it traveled 102 feet and 5 inches and rolled 8 feet and 8 inches. This time, I had set my cannon up at a 15 degree angle with 60 PSI. However, test 6 was a miracle since it traveled 109 feet and 3 inches. After landing on the ground, it rolled 16 feet and 6 inches. This was the only test where the marshmallow traveled with the wind, and my cannon was at a 23 degree angle with 60 PSI.

In conclusion, the difference in lengths that the marshmallow traveled was tremendous. I learned that not only does the degree of angle and air pressure affect how far the marshmallows fly, but the wind and the force of gravity also change the length of how far the marshmallows travel. I also learned that compressed air is used in many objects such as tire pumps, paintball guns, and even jack hammers. My hypothesis was half correct since 60 PSI forces a shot to go farther than other air pressures but a 15 degree angle is more effective than a 25 degree angle (I excluded the last test since it was the only test that went with the wind). The only two factors that could change the outcome of how far the marshmallows traveled is the wind speed and whether or not the marshmallows went with or against the wind. For the most part, I thought my experiment was immensely accurate since the wind didn’t affect all of my shots. It only affected the 4th test since it overpowered the marshmallow and the last test since it assisted in how far the marshmallow traveled. One way of adding on to this project would be using other items that could be shot out of the cannon such as a super ball.