There are many ways to solve a problem. Sometimes it is as simple as applying a piece of duct tape. Other times it takes months or years for a product to progress from an idea into full-scale production. In this activity you will quickly design and build a device that will send a cotton ball as far as possible through the air. The device must work effectively at least ten times without requiring repair.
Materials
Scissors 2 cotton balls 1 balloon 2 rubber bands 2 paper clips 2 coffee stir sticks or straws 2 craft sticks or chopsticks 2 pipe cleaners 12 inches of masking tape
Procedure
1. Using only the materials specified, design and build a device to launch a cotton ball from three feet above the floor and send it as far as possible in a specified direction.
3. Evaluate your solution. (If possible make a video recording of your device firing.) Choose a direction in which to launch the cotton ball. Perform ten successive test firings of your device. Record the distance traveled by the cotton ball (to the nearest quarter inch) of ten successive attempts. If your device is damaged, malfunctions, or is plagued by operator error and the cotton ball does not move in the chosen direction, record the distance as zero and include a reason for the malfunction (e.g., device broken, cotton ball fell from pre-launch position prior to firing, cotton ball launched in the wrong direction, etc.).
The catapult was not strong enough where it was braced to the book and snapped in the operation of launching a catapult.
4. Take a picture of your device after testing.
5. Create a document that includes your name and the name of your device. Include your pictures, a chart to display your data, and a brief explanation of the process that you used to solve the problem. Post the document to the discussion entitled Fling Machine Results and vote for the best design posted to date.
The name of the device is called the “Chopstick dud”. After starring at the materials for a long time, I was trying to think of a way to create a strong base. Then cut the chopsticks into 4 pieces that were taped together and reinforced with paper clips, pipe cleaner and coffee straws. The rubber band was used to bind the two sticks on the apex of the catapult on each side. The balloon was then tied to the posts. The only balloon I had was one of those you make animals and such out of at the circus.
