Mousetrap Catapults
Objective: You and your team will be building a mousetrap catapult from the materials provided
to you. No instructions will be provided as to how you will build the catapult. Instead, you will
use the scientific method to engineer a catapult that maximizes the range of the projectile
launched.
Project Deliverables(things to turn in):
1. In this packet you will record your design process and calculate required angles,
velocities, and peak heights. Make sure you keep all of your schematics, data, and
calculations. No projects submitted without a complete record of their engineering will
be scored.
2. Included in the materials to be turned in will be your:
a. Catapult Schematic
b. Time/Range Trial Data
c. Actual Calculations and Percent Error for final launch
d. Conclusions and Results (pending your final launch)
3. Finally, on Thursday, the 19th of December 2013, your team will be launching their
projectile at the grade target. Your group will be graded based on which square you land
in. The catch is: you must tell me how far you are placing the catapult away from the
target before you launch it.
Catapult Schematic
On this page, please draw out a model of your catapult, explaining which materials will be used
for each part.
In order to better understand how your catapult works, you will be changing the variables that
affect the range of the projectile. Some of these variables might include the length of the lever
arm and the angle at which the projectile is launched
Length of Lever Arm
Try out at least three different lengths of lever arm and measure the range of the projectile
launched. Complete at least 5 different trials at each length. Find the average flight time and
range for each projectile.
Arm Length
(in m)
Flight Time
(in sec)
Range
(in m)
Launch Angle
Try out three different launch angles in order to see which one maximizes the range of the
projectile. Complete at least three
Launch Angle
(in degrees)
Flight Time
(in sec)
Range
(in m)
Conclusions:
Considering the variables that you measured, which lever arm length and launch angle will you
choose to use? Justify your choice mathematically using the above data.
Time Trial Data
Using your finalized catapult, complete the following time and range trials. Complete the
calculations using the average values of time and range. You may certainly complete more time
and range trials if you see a need to do so.
Trial
Distance (Range) (m)
Time (s)
1
2
3
4
5
Calculations:
From this data, calculate the:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Initial Horizontal Velocity
Initial Vertical Velocity
Peak Height
Initial Resultant Velocity
Angle
Trial
Vix
Viy
Peak
Height
Vo
Angle
1
2
3
4
5
Conclusions:
From the data you have accrued, please decide at what distance you will place your catapult from
the target. Write this value in the space below:
Distance from target (in m):_________________________________________