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Application of the Light Gas Gun in the High School Science Curriculum
Dr. Steve Rapp
Linwood Holton Governor’s School
P.O. Box 1987
Abingdon, VA 24210
srapp@hgs.k12.va.us
Introduction
from space debris that may occur in space. Helium or Nitrogen is used as
propellant. The LGG works by releasing high pressure gas behind a projectile
into a very low pressure chamber. The low pressure area of about 100 mTorr
760-790 m/s. An image of the LGG at the Center for Astrophysics, Space
Physics & Engineering Research is shown on the next page (Image 1).
Image 1: CASPER Light Gas Gun
with an object that is exceeding the speed of sound which is about 4-5 km/s.
Space debris velocities are about 10 km/s while the velocities of meteoroids
are about 20 km/s. Shown in image 2 are some impacts made by meteoroids.
material, the material thickness, how fast the particle is moving, and the size
of the particle. The impactor will puncture the target or cut through it if the
target material is relatively thin. Usually if the impactor is larger than about a
third of the target material thickness the target will be punctured [1].
Debris of .1-1 cm size make up about 150,000,000 of the total, while debris
similar to Saturn!
atmosphere each year. The mass of all this space debris is approximately
2,000,000 kg [3]. This space debris is found at many different altitudes but it
the next page). Space debris impacts may cut tethers, cables, or cause
electrical short circuits that may endanger a mission. If the impacts occur in
projectile. The particle travels down the barrel to the target chamber.
Roughing Pump: maintains vacuum within the barrel; Laser Fans: are used to
placed here; Firing Chamber: area in which the projectile is placed (see
Image 5).
Firing Chamber
Barrel
Target Chamber
Laser Fan
PZT
Roughing Pump
use high pressure which can pose a danger. The CO2 canister used to charge
the paint ball gun can become a rocket if the valve is not in the proper
position! Loading the LGG can be dangerous; one must be sure the gun is not
under pressure when trying to load the projectile (see images 6 and 7 on the
next page).
Gas Laws: Since the LGG operates via changes in pressure this is an
excellent way to introduce the Ideal Gas Law: PV=nRT where P = pressure; V
= volume; n = no. of moles; R = universal gas constant (8.3145 J/mol K), and
Gas Laws:
http://www.hgs.k12.va.us/Physics/PowerPoint_Slides/PHY%20chp10_files/fram
e.htm.
Image 6: The CO2 canister that is used to charge the paint ball gun can
become a dangerous projectile. The brass or nickel-plated valve must remain
connected to the CO2 canister when removed from the gun.
Firing Chamber
Image 7: One must make sure the LLG is not under pressure when trying to
load the projectile into the firing chamber.
Optics: The laser fans found in the LGG can be used to introduce students to
refraction, diverging lens, converging lens (see Image 8), and the lens
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/refrn/refrntoc.html provides
since the laser fans can be used to help determine the time it takes for the
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/vectors/u3l2d.html
Kinetic Energy: Kinetic Energy can be calculated since the mass and speed
Image 9). A tutorial and problems on K.E. can be found at this site:
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/Class/energy/u5l1c.html. A lab
activity is at this site:
http://steverapp.pageout.net/user/www/s/t/steverapp/Lab%206.1.htm.
Projectile
quantity with magnitude and direction. When projectiles strike the “target”
they have momentum and create craters in the piece of stainless steel
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/Class/momentum/u4l1a.html
website has sample problems and a tutorial. A lab activity can be found at:
http://steverapp.pageout.net/user/www/s/t/steverapp/Lab%206.1.htm.
Image 10: Projectiles create craters in stainless steel plate; Projectiles have
Momentum.
Third Law is illustrated; for every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction. See this site for a tutorial, sample problems and a quiz:
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/newtlaws/u2l4a.html.
http://www.pageout.net/user/www/s/t/steverapp/Lab%204.2.pdf. Image 11
hypervelocity and low velocity impacts on various space materials used for
developed to alert astronauts to any impacts that may cause damage to the
outer skin of their spacecraft. The plan is to use this sensor network in the
skin of the new Orion spacecraft. In this study many applications can be
[1] European Space Agency. (2005, April). “What are hypervelocity impacts?”
http://www.esa.int/techresources/ESTEC-Article-fullArticle_par-
28_1112600510257.html.
ca/space/articles/meteoroids.pdf