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Wednesday, April 8th
Wednesday, April 8th
The Challenge:
The Challenge:
Build a catapult to launch a soft object at a target. There are so many different types of catapults you can build. I've listed a few websites here to give you some inspiration, but get creative and work with whatever materials you have around your house.
Build a catapult to launch a soft object at a target. There are so many different types of catapults you can build. I've listed a few websites here to give you some inspiration, but get creative and work with whatever materials you have around your house.
Sketch out your design, gather your materials, and start building. Test your catapult and make improvements until you like the way it works!
Sketch out your design, gather your materials, and start building. Test your catapult and make improvements until you like the way it works!
Inspiration:
Simple spoon and craft stick catapult (video)
2 catapults with craft sticks and a bottle cap (if video is blocked on the web page, use this SafeYouTube link)
Catapult with cardboard tube and wooden spoon
Lego catapult
4 more catapults (a little more advanced)
Just for Fun:
Big catapults made to launch a tennis ball - from PBS Design Squad
The physics of Punkin' Chunkin'
2015 CSUF Pumpkin Launch
Inspiration:
Simple spoon and craft stick catapult (video)
2 catapults with craft sticks and a bottle cap (if video is blocked on the web page, use this SafeYouTube link)
Catapult with cardboard tube and wooden spoon
Lego catapult
4 more catapults (a little more advanced)
Just for Fun:
Big catapults made to launch a tennis ball - from PBS Design Squad
The physics of Punkin' Chunkin'
2015 CSUF Pumpkin Launch
The Chambers' Family Solutions ...
The Chambers' Family Solutions ...
We built our catapults with the intention of launching a ping pong ball at a pyramid of plastic cups. Ian's design worked the best! Both Evan and my designs were unable to knock the cups down. We didn't have enough force. So, we decided to launch for distance instead. Mine won, but not by much. You can see our catapults in action in the video below.
We built our catapults with the intention of launching a ping pong ball at a pyramid of plastic cups. Ian's design worked the best! Both Evan and my designs were unable to knock the cups down. We didn't have enough force. So, we decided to launch for distance instead. Mine won, but not by much. You can see our catapults in action in the video below.
Built by Mrs. Chambers and Ian
Materials: craft sticks, clothespins, pencil, bottle cap, rubber bands, hot glue
Built by Mrs. Chambers and Ian
Materials: craft sticks, clothespins, pencil, bottle cap, rubber bands, hot glue
"Crossbow" built by Ian
Materials: craft sticks, rubber bands, and hot glue
"Crossbow" built by Ian
Materials: craft sticks, rubber bands, and hot glue
Built by Evan
Materials: craft sticks, spoon, clothespin, rubber bands, and hot glue
Built by Evan
Materials: craft sticks, spoon, clothespin, rubber bands, and hot glue
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