Is Physics Required to Accurately Launch a Water Balloon with a Slingshot?

[chanome]

Ok, I just want to know if this is solvable by physics. If it can, it would also be helpful if you could supply an equation or something, but you don't have to. I just want to know if I can figure it out with physics. So here's the question:
Suppose there is a person that is 80 ft away. I have a sling shot and one water balloon. If I am supposed to hit the person with a water balloon from 80 ft away, how far would I have to pull back the sling shot and at what angle would the sling shot have to be tilted at.
Although it may sound silly, it is a serious question. I would really appreciate it if you could help me out. Thx.

 

[pallidin]

There are too many unknown variables here. The only constant given in your description is the distance.

 

[chanome]

Well, let's say you know the variables. Is still it solvable?

 

[Pengwuino]

Actually there are no variables I can think of that will make this impossible. What you would need to find however, and I'm sure its certainly possible, is the equivalent spring constant of the sling shot and of course, the mass of the water balloon.

 

[chanome]

Thx a lot guys! I really appreciate your help.

 

[pervect]

Ok, I just want to know if this is solvable by physics. If it can, it would also be helpful if you could supply an equation or something, but you don't have to. I just want to know if I can figure it out with physics. So here's the question:
Suppose there is a person that is 80 ft away. I have a sling shot and one water balloon. If I am supposed to hit the person with a water balloon from 80 ft away, how far would I have to pull back the sling shot and at what angle would the sling shot have to be tilted at.
Although it may sound silly, it is a serious question. I would really appreciate it if you could help me out. Thx.

It rather depends on what you mean by "solve it". You would have to calibrate the slingshot, there are several possible conceptual ways you could do this, one of them would be to get a spring scale and measure the force it took to pull the sling back a distance of 'x'.

You would also have to know the aerodynamic properties of the water balloon. This would probably be harder to model accurately, though you could certainly crudely approximate it as a sphere, and knowing the density of water you could figure out it's weight from it's volume (or vica-versa).

It is an open question as to how accurate your predictions would be. The drag on the water balloon probably depends on its exact angle if it has a balloon shape. The angle of attack of the water balloon probably varies in flight, meaning in practice that no two will land in the exact same spot.

 

[Chronos]

Like pervect and others said, you need to quantify the variables. It is obviously doable because certain missiles [e.g. cruise missiles] can be launched from relatively great distances and delivered with amazing accuracy. A good exercise would be to quantify the accuracy required to qualify as a 'hit', itemize all relevant variables, and quantify your technological capability to limit the margin of error for each variable. You then have a valid basis to deduce the statistical probability of a 'hit'. Theory is easy compared to application [an engineering thing].

 

[I AM]

40 degree angle

 

[Pengwuino]

But cruise missiles have radar-enabled computerized terrain following systems :P

 

[Chronos]

Of course, it's just a matter of some inconsequential engineering details to make that happen

 

[Kazza_765]

But artillery can still hit a target up to 40kms away. They use computers to plot and aim the trajectory, but they can't control the round once its been fired.

 

[Crosson]

The easiest thing to do would be to pull the slingshot back to a certain point, and then launch the balloon and note how far it went and the angle at which it was launched.

Using this information, it is a relatively simple physics problem to find the angle which would lead to striking your target 80ft away, if you pull the slongshot back to the same point.

 

[Pengwuino]

For a longer range... attach rocket.

 

[chanome]

Well, I am starting to think this isn't going to be possible. The reason i want to know is because my physics teacher is letting us try and hit him from 80 ft away using a sling shot and a water ballon. And the thing is, i really want to hit him (he's really boring and gives really hard tests, so i mean he deserves it). The problem is, i only get two balloons to try with and the sling shot is supplied by my teacher. So i don't think i can do any of these tests. Is there any way just to assume a lot of it?

 

[Pengwuino]

No way to assume. The slingshot can be as ... springy as an atv's shocks or as springy as a slinky. If you don't know how much energy can be stored up in that sling shot, no chance of doing any calculations.

I advise you to 'feel' out the slingshot and on the first shot, try to fire it farther then you want it to go. That provides a better calibration then going short the first time in my opinion.

 

[neurocomp2003]

are you planning on making a mechanical device to hit someones house...
learn some projectile motion and then calculate the force and angle needed to make that projectil motion.

 

[Dhl]

I guess this teacher has either done some calculations himself, or, more likely, he has just tried it and found it impossible to throw a balloon 80 ft. with his slingshot (I mean, it's unlikely he would allow to do that if he were not sure he wouldn't get hit...). Thus, the solution is to bring a water hose along, and then tell him you calculated that the task of making him wet cannot be solved with a water balloon and a slingshot :)

 

[chanome]

I guess this teacher has either done some calculations himself, or, more likely, he has just tried it and found it impossible to throw a balloon 80 ft. with his slingshot (I mean, it's unlikely he would allow to do that if he were not sure he wouldn't get hit...). Thus, the solution is to bring a water hose along, and then tell him you calculated that the task of making him wet cannot be solved with a water balloon and a slingshot :)

Not a bad idea

 

[kublai]

The trick is to use a very small water balloon, say about 2cm dia, about 3gm. Tie the balloon and then trim of the excess rubber, drag you know. Most readily available slingshots can reach 80 feet with this weight with an angle of 30deg. above horizontal when streached to the elastic limit ( which is where you feel a sudden increase in resistance). I tried it with my slingshot and a 3gm rubber ball (don't have a balloon) and it worked. The objective is to hit him not get him wet!
Have fun!