Rubber Band Trajectory Project
Introduction
You have most certainly heard about the Rubber Band Project, but today you
will learn exactly what you will be doing in this project! There are 3 main
objectives of this project:
1. Build a device and design and conduct an experiment that answers the question, “At
which launch angle – 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 degrees – does a rubber band
travel the farthest?”
2. Design and conduct an experiment that answers the question, “Does the amount of
force applied to a rubber band affect the distance that it travels – no matter the
launch angle?”
3. Rubber Band Olympics: Use the data collected in the above experiments to hit a series
of targets. Closest rubber band wins the gold medal!!! Can you get a bullseye?
Rubber Band Trajectory Project
Background Research
Part A – Launch Angles
Use a protractor to sketch a diagram of a rubber band launcher on the floor in E1 launching rubber bands at the
7 different launch angles required for this project – 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 degrees. Label each of the
launch angles directly on your diagram, including labelling the floor, ceiling, rubberband launcher, and even you!
Part B – Internet Research
Read through (and play the animations!) on the below website, looking for the answers to each of the questions. If you
need to use additional websites, make sure to cite each website you use.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/vectors/u3l2a.cfm
1.
Use words and diagrams OF YOUR OWN DESIGN to define:
a. Projectile
b. Trajectory
c. Parabolic Trajectory
2. Use words and diagrams OF YOUR OWN DESIGN to describe what you believe will happen to your rubber
band as it is shot out of your rubber band device.
3. Now use words and diagrams OF YOUR OWN DESIGN to describe what you believe will happen to your
rubber band as it is shot out of your rubber band device in a world with no gravity!!!
Rubber Band Trajectory Project
Device Design
Goal – Design and build a single device that can be used to answer the questions:
1. “At which launch angle – 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 degrees – does a rubber band travel the
farthest?”
2. “Does the amount of force applied to a rubber band affect the distance that it travels – no
matter the launch angle?”
Available Materials per Lab Partner Pair:
• Goggles
• Rubberbands
• 1 square dowel launching stick
• 1, 1”x4” scrap piece of wood
• Masking tape
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•
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1 ft of duct tape
3 zip ties
1 protractor
Ruler or metersticks
Other materials (with permission)
£ Brainstorming – Work with your partner to brainstorm ideas for your device. Record all of your
ideas within your science notebook in the form of words and diagrams!
£ Sketch final design and Build it! Once you and your partner have agreed on a design, sketch
that design before or after you build it – whichever order works best for the both of you. Don’t
forget to create an official name for your device and put it (and your names) directly on the
device! For an extra challenge, create a scale drawing of your devic
Rubber Band Trajectory Project
Experimental Design
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Questions – What are the testable questions you are attempting to answer with this experiment?
Hypotheses – List your hypotheses for each of your questions
Independent variable (What are you purposefully changing from trial to trial?)
Dependent variable (What is the change that you are measuring each trial?)
Control variables, etc. (What stays the same the entire experiment?)
Experimental Methods detailed – Use words and diagrams for this
Create a Data Table to collect your data
Rubber Band Trajectory Project
Data Analysis and Conclusion
Now is the time to figure out what all of that rubberband shooting meant! There is no requirement to create a
full-scale lab report with an Introduction and Methods section (since that should already be in your notebook).
The requirment is, however, to create a “Rubberband Brief” very much like your Time Analysis assignment –
with the digital data clearly displayed and a logical analysis beneath it. Your entire “Rubberband Brief” should
ideally fit on a single page, but can run onto a maximum of two pages if necessary.
Sections
Requirements
Data Table(s)
£ Proper labeling of units on all measurements, columns and rows
£ Correct calculation of averages and other data analysis
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Graph(s)
Conclusion
Appropriate type of graph(s) is used
Axes are correctly scaled and labeled
Descriptive title(s) is displayed
Data is correctly plotted, graph(s) is neat and clean
£ Logical claim(s) are present that reference each original question
£ Claim(s) references the original hypotheses and states whether the data supports
or refutes each hypothesis
£ Multiple pieces of quantitative and qualitative evidence are cited within reasoning
that backs up each claim
£ Errors are identified and the affects of those errors on the overall conclusion(s)
are thoroughly explained
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Rubber Band Trajectory Project
Data Analysis and Conclusion
Now is the time to figure out what all of that rubberband shooting meant! There is no requirement to create a
full-scale lab report with an Introduction and Methods section (since that should already be in your notebook).
The requirment is, however, to create a “Rubberband Brief” very much like your Time Analysis assignment –
with the digital data clearly displayed and a logical analysis beneath it. Your entire “Rubberband Brief” should
ideally fit on a single page, but can run onto a maximum of two pages if necessary.
Sections
Data Table(s)
Graph(s)
Conclusion
Requirements
£ Proper labeling of units on all measurements, columns and rows
£ Correct calculation of averages and other data analysis
£
£
£
£
Appropriate type of graph(s) is used
Axes are correctly scaled and labeled
Descriptive title(s) is displayed
Data is correctly plotted, graph(s) is neat and clean
£ Logical claim(s) are present that reference each original question
£ Claim(s) references the original hypotheses and states whether the data supports
or refutes each hypothesis
£ Multiple pieces of quantitative and qualitative evidence are cited within reasoning
that backs up each claim
£ Errors are identified and the affects of those errors on the overall conclusion(s)
are thoroughly explained
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