Projectile Launcher Project

A. Objective:

To build a launching device for a standard golf ball. The launching device must propel the golf ball to one of
the 4 possible target areas as shown in the diagram. The golf ball must first clear a 0.5 m high barrier placed
1.0 m within the 2.5 m gap between the launch area and the target area. Also to calculate the initial velocity
of the golf ball on launch day.

B. Apparatus:

1.) A standard golf ball will be provided on launch day.

2.) The launch device must be made by the team (1, 2 or 3 people). The launcher cannot incorporate any
commercially available propelling device such as a golf ball launcher, or dart guns, etc. It can be a
modification of household objects. Each launch device must have its own base – not hand held. The
apparatus should be no more than 1m cube (each side should be less than 1m). No part of the
apparatus can extend beyond 1 meter in height (before, during, and after operation).

3.) The launch device must be powered by gravity, air pressure (max 60 psi), an elastic object, springs, or
electromagnetic means. Human power may be used to bring the device to the calibrated release point but
may not be used to propel the projectile forward.

Any air pressure or electromagnetic device must get prior approval from your teacher.

3.) The launch will be made from floor level in one of the launch quadrants. The ball must launch below the
barrier height (although the apparatus itself can be higher than the barrier – in other words the ball must go
up before it comes back down). The quadrant of the launch position (as shown in the diagram) will be
determined by pulling a number out of a hat.

4.) The target will be one of the 1m x 1m areas within the defined landing area with a bulls-eye in its middle.
The landing area will also be chosen by pulling a number out of a hat). See diagram.

C. Competition:

1.) The position of the target will be determined by pulling a number from a hat, and will be one of the 4
locations as shown in the diagram.

2.) The position of the launching device will be within one of the 4 quadrants, again set by pulling a number
from a hat. The launch device has to fit in the 1m x 1m square starting area. The golf ball will have to clear
the 0.5 m (50cm) high barrier before hitting the landing area.

3.) You will have two chances to hit your specified target.

4.) EACH MEMBER of the group will fire the projectile for their own grade (with different starting and
landing positions). Everyone needs to know how to use the device and how it is calibrated.

5.) EACH MEMBER of the group will calculate the initial velocity of the golf ball for their own launch.
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 Projectile Launcher Project
D. Judging and Scoring:

1.) The target will be a bull’s-eye located at the center of one of the target areas.

2.) Upon instruction of the judges the projectile will be launched.

3.) The first time it hits the ground the projectile must hit within the designated 1m x 1m target area.

4.) Your group will also need to turn in a poster board (tri-fold) for the project.

5.) Grading will be based on your:

1.) Poster (group grade) 15:

2.) Design and Construction (group grade) 16:
3.) Accuracy of golf ball launch (hitting target – each group member separately) 10:
4.) Calculation of initial velocity of golf ball during launch day (each group member separately) 4:

E. Diagram of launch area and landing area (looking down from above):

1m 1m

1m PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Launch
1 2 do LOTS of trials at home
quadrants before the project is due
1m
3 4

1m

0.5 m high

1.5 m

Your target area will

1m 1m
Landing look like this.
Regions
1 2 1m
75 80 75
3 4 1m 90
100

75 75
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 Projectile Launcher Project
Guidance
The following contains a few tips on creating a superb catapult. Also refer to the rubric.

1. Design
a. Do you have a means to prevent lateral motion of the projectile?
b. Does the design allow for one person to operate it alone without someone else holding it down?
c. Top scorers in design will usually have some uniqueness of design. This might include for example:
i. The use of a launcher mechanism not based on a traditional catapult. This might include air
power, a spring-loaded cannon, crossbow, DaVinci catapult, etc.
ii. The use of a traditional catapult design, but it includes unique design elements (such as a
cocking/trigger mechanism).
d. Your mechanism (e.g., protractor, ruler, etc) for measuring the force of the throw should ideally be an
integral part of the catapult.
2. Construction
a. Does the catapult sit solidly on the ground?
b. Does the catapult wobble?
c. Is the catapult firmly put together using, e.g., screws/nails, or does it rely on tape?
3. Presentation (poster Board)
a. Does it list all group members?
b. Is it typed neatly (calculations may be hand-written).
c. Does it have photos of you with the catapult during 4 stages of construction & final project?
d. Does it include detailed and labeled diagram(s)?
e. Clearly specifies what method was used to measure the force. E.g., a ruler, protractor, set of strings,
etc. Also mention whether the measurement device is part of (i.e. attached to) the launcher or not.
f. Itemized list of all materials used including the number, dimensions, and estimated cost. If you
already have something at home, estimate how much it would be to buy it.
g. Does it include a Calibration Table:
i. All tables complete, neat, accurate, and with supporting calculations.
ii. A detailed description of the calibration/test process. Treat this process as a scientific
experiment. During the course of your calibration, you will complete many trials. A record
will therefore be provided of each trial (setting and result). For example show any
calculations you did or data you recorded and explain how you used that information
to calibrate your apparatus. Use the data table below for your final averages.
h. Problems Encountered: A really good poster will be more than just the facts. It will also describe the
evolution of your thinking on the design and construction. What obstacles you faced and what you did
to overcome them.
i. One sample calculation of launch velocity – any of the boxes you want.
4. Launch day
a. Are you using some method to ensure that the force of projectile release is appropriate for the distance
you are targeting?
b. Are you referring to your calibration tables?
c. Are you carefully measuring the placement of the launcher within the quadrant?
5. Removal
The projectile launcher must be removed from school property within 24 hours after the launch. Failure to do
so will result in losing 10points.

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Name:_______________________________Period:__________________Date:_____________
Final Calibration Data: End Result (you should have a lot more trials in your journal – this is just the final
table you will use on launch day)

Launch-Target Areas Calibration Setting

1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4

2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4

3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4

4-1
4-2
4-3
4-4

Sample Calculation of golf ball velocity: Choose any starting box and ending box and show how you
calculate the initial velocity of the ball. You’ll need to measure distance, time, launch height, launch angle
and work backwards to solve for the initial velocity. Use the projectile equations.

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