Fire Away!

The Fire Away Project was a set of experiments and models in which the goal was to maximize how far a projectile can be thrown from a homemade catapult. We tested extensively to find the different aspects of the catapult that could be changed to increase and decrease its throwing capacity. Shown below is a proof of efficacy document showing calculations, pictures of the catapult, and measurements taken from it.

Link to Proof of Efficacy Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mR13L1OLBwhw1--e0rLYFpnOAJVcpttO-2PlUnuTnyg/edit?usp=sharing

Measurements and Calculations:

Mass of Projectile: .0577kg

Time In Air: 1.3 seconds

Vertical Distance: 8.2 meters

Horizontal Distance: 4.2 meters

Horizontal Velocity: 3.2 meters per second

Vertical Velocity: 12.7 meters per second

Total Velocity: 12.3 meters per second

Release Angle: 19 degrees

Potential Energy Due To Gravity: 52.9 N

Kinetic Energy of the Ball: 4.3 N

Percent of Energy Converted: 8% of energy was converted