Catapult Activity RBA

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Conclusion

Ultimately, the catapult with the longer/shorter base will lead to a greater distance, height, and therefore, a greater velocity.

Start Here and Go Clockwise!

Dependent variables

Distance(m), Max Height(m), Velocity(m/s) dependent on the height of the launch.

Independent variable

Only the distance between the base and the height was altered during the experiment, and confounding variables were carefully accounted for.

The distance between the base and height of the catapult. Short: 34.2 cm Long:38.5 cm

Start Heights, Short: 1.68 m Long: 1.73 m

Does the length of the base of the catapult affect the distance or velocity the marshmallow travels?

Our Hypothesis

If the distance between the center of mass of the base is increased then the projectile will travel a smaller horizontal distance but have a greater max height.

Our thought process?

Our Data

Short Base

2.45 m

1.15 s

3.84 m

Long Base

Height

2.72 m

Time

1.38 s

Distance

4.99 m

Reflection

Improvements: We can have a fixed height from where the person was launched so the data is more accurate. We can also have more people looking for the exact height and distance, since this was approximated based on our vision and the video.

Sources of Error: Actual height variation Measurements of both max distance and height Wrist position/angle Rounding in some calculations Calculations themselves were not perfect General Human error Times may be a little off.

Graphing the Data (Y over X)

Large Height (m) over Distance (m)

Large Velocity (m/s) over time (s)

Small Height (m) over Distance (m)

Small Velocity (m/s) over time (s)

Velocities at different positions (visualized in graphs)

Final Velocity

-7 m/s

-7.38 m/s

Even Velocity

-3.64 m/s

-3.23m/s

Peak Velocity

3.34m/s

3.63 m/s

Initial Velocity

Short: 3.55 m/s

Tall: 3.85m/s