- #1
Bissli
- 6
- 0
I am building a tennis ball launcher for my physics class, and it needs to be no bigger than 1m X 1m, it must reach to a target that is 2 - 7m away from the launch site, and the target may or may not be at a certain height. No fire, explosives, gasses may be used. It must run on pure mechanical physics As of now, my model goes as such:
3 wood panels making 45-45-90 triangle.
A plastic tube with inside the tennis ball resting on a small 'cup' which it can rest it, but can not be stuck in. The 'cup' is attached to the top edge of the tube with rubber bands, and the bottom of the cup has a rope attached, which runs out of the tube. To launch the ball, i pull on the rope, which tightens the rubber bands, and letting go, launches the ball.
Building the model is not the hard part (although my dad has taken it upon himself and it is now a huge, over the top thing which i am not happy about), my problem is when i come to class, and i am given the distance and the height, how can i calculate how far to pull back my rope? as of now, i have determined that i can make marks on the wood on how far back to the pull the rope, which can tell me how far it will launch.
Should i test it out, and see what velocity it flys with how far back i am pulling it? does this involve force? can i measure the force with which i am pulling the tennis ball back?
we have learned about projectile motion and Newtons laws, so i am guessing we must use some of that in our calculations.
Thanks to anyone who helps! :shy:
3 wood panels making 45-45-90 triangle.
A plastic tube with inside the tennis ball resting on a small 'cup' which it can rest it, but can not be stuck in. The 'cup' is attached to the top edge of the tube with rubber bands, and the bottom of the cup has a rope attached, which runs out of the tube. To launch the ball, i pull on the rope, which tightens the rubber bands, and letting go, launches the ball.
Building the model is not the hard part (although my dad has taken it upon himself and it is now a huge, over the top thing which i am not happy about), my problem is when i come to class, and i am given the distance and the height, how can i calculate how far to pull back my rope? as of now, i have determined that i can make marks on the wood on how far back to the pull the rope, which can tell me how far it will launch.
Should i test it out, and see what velocity it flys with how far back i am pulling it? does this involve force? can i measure the force with which i am pulling the tennis ball back?
we have learned about projectile motion and Newtons laws, so i am guessing we must use some of that in our calculations.
Thanks to anyone who helps! :shy: