The Siege of PCTI

War! PCTI Physics classes are under attack from evil Lannister freshmen forces. You, being proud
Targaryen senior dragons and Stark junior wolves must defend your classroom against their impending
siege. Upperclassmen have always ruled the school and the freshmen want their turn. The seat of power
hangs in the balance and it is up to you to defend it to your last breath. Using your shared and noble physics
tradition you must design a catapult that can launch a paper ball as far as possible.

***Do not fire the mini catapult at any actual freshman***

****Or anyone for that matter****

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adlH1WtyCcU&ab_channel=cabelaman1
Helpful Resources:
https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/popsicle-stick-catapult-kids-stem-activity/
https://www.instructables.com/The-Catapult-Lab/
Instructions:
Design and build a catapult using available household materials that can launch a crumpled piece of paper
as far as possible. Get creative with your design and make sure to give it a cool name! You may include
aesthetic touches if you so please. Be sure to include a picture of your finished catapult.

Suggested Materials:
● Popsicle sticks
● Pencils, pens
● Plastic spoons, forks, and knives (only plastic)
● Rubber bands
● Tape (duct tape is ideal, but use whatever kind you have)
Design # 1 : Please upload a picture of your first design.

Maximum Distance of first design: Launch a few times and record your maximum distance of the paper ball.
(Use a ruler. You can give the answer in inches and/or feet.)
The maximum it went was about 1.8 feet.

Question 1:
If energy can take on many forms (stored, moving, gravitational etc…) describe the energy at each stage.
● When the catapult is pulled back about to launch
The catapult pulled back about to launch is stored energy.

● When the ball just leaves the catapult after being accelerated
The ball leaving from the catapult after being accelerated is moving energy.

● When the paper ball is at the highest point of its parabolic path
When the ball is at the highest point of its parabolic path it is gravitational energy.

Redesign
With energy in mind. Name 3 things you can do to your design and how that will improve the launch distance.
(adding materials/using new materials and or design, etc.)
1. I taped the spoon’s bottom to the knives so the spoon is structured down and sturdy. I broke
the head of the fork and taped it at the bottom of the spoon so the spoon doesn’t slide out
from in between the knives.

2. I tightened the rubber bands so that the rubber bands aren’t loose when I pull the spoon back
to launch the paper ball.

3. I added two pens on the sides of the design so the whole design is more sturdy. Before it was
wobbly and was moving each time I launched my paper ball.

Now make your modifications

Design # 2 : Please upload a picture of your second design.

Maximum Distance of 2nd design: Launch a few times and record your maximum distance of the paper ball.
(Use a ruler. You can give the answer in inches and/or feet.)
The maximum it went up to was 13.1 feet long.

Conclusion:
If the paper ball was made of a more dense material and had more mass, would you say it would have more
energy or less? Why?
It would be more energy because it would have more mass and have greater momentum when it is moving.