To get to the pages of directions for your particular catapult, click on the corresponding picture below.
You will need to get with your other group members and decide what materials each of you will bring. You will begin building your catapult as soon as you have your materials.
Now that you have built your catapult it is time to test fire it. See your teacher to get the projectiles that will be used for this. Since this is the first time that these catapults will be fired we will be doing that outside. Test firing your catapult inside or in an unsafe manner will result in an immediate failing grade for this project.
Once you are certain that your catapult will fire setup the video camera and record the flight of the projectile, at this time measure and record the length of the projectiles motion. Take the recording from the video camera back to the classroom and project the flight of the projectile onto the large graph paper that is provided. Play the projectile flight on a loop and create a graph to model the flight of the projectile. Use the measurement of the flight distance to create a scale the graph and use this scale to approximate the height of the projectile when it has traveled 1 foot horizontally. Use the 3 points that you just found to create an equation to model your projectile's flight. If you need help finding this equation click here. Once you have found your equation put your graph back on the whiteboard and enter your equation into the online graphing calculator from the teacher's computer and see how well it fits your graph. Adjust your equation as needed. When you have your equation modeling your projectile flight accurately click on the 'Final Catapult Assignment' link on the left or click here to access the activity that will determine a large portion of your grade.
Once you are certain that your catapult will fire setup the video camera and record the flight of the projectile, at this time measure and record the length of the projectiles motion. Take the recording from the video camera back to the classroom and project the flight of the projectile onto the large graph paper that is provided. Play the projectile flight on a loop and create a graph to model the flight of the projectile. Use the measurement of the flight distance to create a scale the graph and use this scale to approximate the height of the projectile when it has traveled 1 foot horizontally. Use the 3 points that you just found to create an equation to model your projectile's flight. If you need help finding this equation click here. Once you have found your equation put your graph back on the whiteboard and enter your equation into the online graphing calculator from the teacher's computer and see how well it fits your graph. Adjust your equation as needed. When you have your equation modeling your projectile flight accurately click on the 'Final Catapult Assignment' link on the left or click here to access the activity that will determine a large portion of your grade.