Building an Egg Launcher: Get Creative with Surgical Tubing

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on designing an egg launcher using 2ft of surgical tubing, emphasizing the use of elastic force for propulsion. Participants consider various mechanisms, including a Roman Ballista and a crossbow, while also exploring the potential of centrifugal force for launching. The maximum weight for the egg launcher is set at 2.5kg, and the goal is to achieve a gentle but long acceleration to maximize distance traveled by the egg. The conversation highlights the importance of recording the initial landing point of the egg, regardless of subsequent bounces or cracks.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of elastic force principles
  • Familiarity with basic mechanics of projectile motion
  • Knowledge of Roman Ballista and crossbow mechanisms
  • Concept of centrifugal force and its applications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanics of Roman Ballista design
  • Explore crossbow construction techniques
  • Investigate the principles of centrifugal force in launching mechanisms
  • Learn about optimizing elastic potential energy for maximum distance
USEFUL FOR

Students, hobbyists, and engineers interested in physics, mechanics, and creative project design, particularly those focused on building launchers or experimenting with elastic propulsion systems.

dudestermikey
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A bit early for a culminating.. but here we are at the much overused "Build an Egg Launcher" project. The idea is to use surgical tubing (2ft) to launch an egg the farthest possible (the egg can crack, it doesn't matter). The only force allowed in this is the elastic force of the surgical tubing (you can stretch it out before hand). There is a maximum weight of 2.5kg.

Right now, I'm thinking along the lines of a Roman Ballista, though perhaps if the weight exceeds 2.5kg, I'll move onto just a regular crossbow..

There is, of course, the over-done slingshot that I'll resort to when all else fails. I was also trying to wrap my mind around a way to use the surgical tubing with centrifugal (or centrifical; God knows) force -- that is, to somehow wrap it around a pole, and have it spinning out.

Any ideas? I'm not looking for formulas at this point.. but perhaps just names of things I could research, or some original launching ideas.

Thanks a lot.
 
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If the egg crack before it lands chances are that it will not travel as far as it would have if it did not. So I would suggest a gentle but long acceleration. That probably implies a long elastic.
 
The maximum surgical tubing length is 2ft. Also, the distance is recorded by where the egg first lands, which is why it doesn't matter if it bounces and rolls further, or cracks.
 

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