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By Caroline Kabus,
Nick Shaw,
and Robert Sui
Rules and Remarks
1. Modify a mousetrap to launch ping-pong balls though the air. Only the tension of one mousetrap can be used as the force to shoot the balls. ALL ORIGINAL PARTS OF A MOUSETRAP MUST BE VISIBLE, WEATHER FUNCTIONAL OR NOT.
2. Targets will consist of three empty cans (#10 Size, EXAMPLE: cans; open end up, with an opening of approximately 6”). Cans are lined with a ¼” sheet of foam padding to reduce the bounce effect after the balls hit the inside of the target. Cans will be positioned side by side in a triangular configuration and placed at the edge of the target table closest to the launcher table. (See diagram in “Apparatus” section).
3. One team member will operate the launcher (the “Shooter”) while the other member (the “Catcher”) retrieves stray balls, returning them to the launcher operator for additional launchers. Team will earn points for each ball remaining in targets at the end of the three-minute time frame.
4. Launcher and targets will be on separate tables. Tables are 3’ high and facing edges of the tables will be positioned 12’ apart. Table-top area will be at least 2.5” wide. The Launcher must fit on the table with no parts of the launcher extending beyond the front of the table (towards targets).
5. Weight and /or size of the launcher should be heavy enough to remain stable during launches. Attaching launcher to the table is NOT permitted.
6. The launcher may be hand-held but must rest on the top of the table during launches. Distance between any part of the launcher and targets must be at least 12’. A “triggering” or “tripping” mechanism is optional.
7. Ping-Pong balls must enter the targets “on the fly”. Balls that enter the targets – after bouncing off the table, wall or backstop – will NOT be counted.
8. Ping-Pong balls CANNOT be removed from targets during the three-minute time frame.
9. Multiple attempts and adjustments to the launcher are permitted within the three-minute time frame.
10. Each team must bring their own supply of ping-pong balls. Ping-pong balls cannot be modified to reduce their normal bounce. One thin coat of paint, to identify balls, is permitted.
Objective
To design and build a launcher which can catapult ping-pong balls at targets (#10 Cans 6" Diameter x 7" tall) located twelve feet from the launcher table. The launcher must shoot only one ball at a time and should be re-loadable in order to launch as many balls as possible within a three-minute time frame.
1. Each team will be given a three-minute time frame to launch as many balls as possible.
2. At the end of the team’s three-minute time frame, judges will count balls remaining in targets (cans). Each ball in the rear two targets will yield 30 points; and 50 points per ball in the center front target.
3. Team members must remain in the area until scoring for the launcher is complete
4. A decision of judges, during all phases of the competition, is final. In the event of a tie prizes will be equally distributed between winning entries.
The Launcher
Components of
The Launcher
*The entire contraption is held together with hot glue and a layer of duct tape.
Half of a pingpong ball
5 Erasers
Spring
Mouse Trap
The amount of power in our launcher was good; it generally shot near the correct distance. The accuracy of the shots varied. It might have performed better if we controlled the direction of the shot with more accuracy.
Materials
for Launcher
Data consists only of those values measured directly from the experimental apparatus.
Duct Tape
Given that we did not score any points, there was no concrete data to collect.
1 standard household Mouse Trap
Erasers
Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
Pingpong Balls
Nick and the Launcher