How can I calculate the range and trajectory of a ping pong ball launcher?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of the range and trajectory of a ping pong ball launcher, focusing on the effects of air pressure, drag force, and spin on the ball's motion. Participants explore theoretical and practical aspects of the launcher design, including the interaction of the ball with air flow and the mathematical modeling of its flight path.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether a ping pong ball will drop into a 40mm tube with air flowing at 6 bar or if it will be blown back out, suggesting a comparison to how an airbrush operates.
  • Another participant proposes that as long as the hopper tube is perpendicular to the barrel, the balls should be sucked into the barrel.
  • Concerns are raised about calculating the drag force on the ping pong ball, with a request for guidance on whether a standard integral exists for calculating drag at various velocities.
  • One participant shares an anecdote about an orange being fired from a launcher, suggesting that it could reach speeds of about 300 km/h and travel approximately 1 km, but questions the applicability of this to the current scenario.
  • There is a disagreement about the linearity of the projectile's path, with one participant asserting that gravity will prevent a linear trajectory.
  • A later reply mentions that while spin will affect the trajectory, it may be difficult to account for it due to uncertainties in how the ball will emerge from the launcher.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effects of air pressure on the ball's entry into the tube, the calculation of drag, and the influence of spin on trajectory. No consensus is reached on these points, and multiple competing perspectives remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in their understanding of the physics involved, particularly regarding the assumptions about air pressure and the complexities of drag and spin in projectile motion. There are also references to potential dependencies on specific design choices for the launcher.

chris_tams
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Hi there. I'm at bath uni. Our group is building a ping pong ball launcher. Here are some issues we encountered.

If the ball is to drop vertically into a 40mm tube with air flowing at 6bar(does this mean anything?) will it drop in or will it blow back out.

Also I'm not to sure how to calculate the drag force on the TT ball through the air. I need to calculate its range and trajectory. Obviously this will change when spinning. Is it possible to take spinning into account on paper?

Is there a standard integral i need to calculate the drag at each velocity?

Any help will do.

Thanks
 
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They won't thank you here for cross-posting.

However, you will be forgiven, since you're from Worksop.
 
chris_tams said:
If the ball is to drop vertically into a 40mm tube with air flowing at 6bar(does this mean anything?) will it drop in or will it blow back out.
Think about how an airbrush works...
 
I don't know much about that kind of stuff but I know alittle. Concerning the loading question, the balls should actually be sucked into the barrel as long as the hopper tube is perpendicular to the barrel. As for the drag and trajectory this site should help http://lennon.csufresno.edu/~nas31/nsa/pballCalc.html it's for paintball but it's similar to your question.
 
Well i know that if you make it as a orange gun, and you fired a orange the orange would get to speeds of about 300km/h and travel 1km there abouts, but that is using a internal combustion. Any way would'nt the line of fire be fairly linear? so you could just graph it.
 
Sowhatalot said:
Well i know that if you make it as a orange gun, and you fired a orange the orange would get to speeds of about 300km/h and travel 1km there abouts, but that is using a internal combustion.

What, at 6 bar like the OP stated? Don't think so!

Any way would'nt the line of fire be fairly linear? so you could just graph it.

No, gravity would ensure that the path isn't linear.


Chris, is this a first year group build project? Unless you're on an AE course, I'd probably expect them to be looking for you just to use kinematics and some basic aerodynamics (drag) to determine the flight details. You're right in stating that spin will affect your trajectory, but I don't think there's any way you'll be able to take this into account, since you have little idea of how the ball will emerge from the launcher. Anyway, you haven't posted for a while so I guess you've got exams on at the moment...
 

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