Hello, I would just like to thank you for how helpful this video has been throughout what has been an up and down SciOly season for Air Trajectory. I was able to get 1st recently at the SEPA regionals and am looking forward to competing in states as well!
How do you know where to place the vent holes and what sizes they should be? I am currently building a similar pvc drop tower and I didn’t want to make any holes until I am sure of how big and where I want them to be, so wondering if there is a standard or how you knew yours. I also wanted to know if there was a certain distance from the bottom that should have no holes in order to be used to compress the air, and if so what would that distance be?
What would would happen if we didn’t use the vent holes on the side of the drop chamber? Would that be a reason for the ball not going as far as it should be going (2nd design)
Vent holes allow the weight to drop fully, if there were no vent holes, then the weight wouldn't be able to go all the way down the drop tower due to compressed air building up underneath it.
hi there! I’m using a pretty similar design to the second one in that i have a mass holder (I 3d printed) sliding down the main PVC tube acting as a piston. The issue is, it just doesn’t fire the ball near far enough (maybe a m or two?) I think it’s because there is friction, so I am going to grease everything up, but how different in size was the mass thing vs the inner diameter of the pvc? i think mine is getting caught on the wall and slowing down so the ball doesn’t really fire much at all! Thank you for all the help
The bolt was pushed halfway in the tower, then slid through the hook, then out to the other side. Moving the bolt up and down through the holes was a key adjustment feature
How did you make the 4-inch weight that perfectly fit into the tube? Also wouldn't the air just go up? How did you get it to go through the elbow tube?
@@ChandiGarg we looked through our recycle bin and found a steel can that was close to the right size. Then added duct tape until it was a perfect fit. Once the weight/ piston was falling down, the only place air could go was through the hole at the bottom
Could you explain for the second design (the one with the two connected pvcs and the elbow, the air pressure system in that pvc that distributes air to the second launching pvc that shoots the ball? I don’t get how after the mass gets dropped, what the air pressure system would be hit and how it would go into the second pvc. Also was it some sort of foot launcher or balloon? and also how was the ping pong ball stored, did it go all the way to the elbow or was it stored straight on the launching pvc and how.
Yes, the ping pong ball went all the way down to the elbow. There was no balloon or other air storage that was hit with the mass, the mass was tightly fit to the diameter of the pipe forming a piston that compressed the air. No need for anything else
@@dhruvgarg2909 of course the size of the Piston matters. It should be as close as possible to the inside diameter of the pipe. If it is loose, it will not generate compression.
@@dhruvgarg2909 any pipe that fits. Take a ball into a hardware store and see which one works! That's what we did. What we found worked best for a racquetball was the pipe to support chain link fences.
Hi I was wondering if you could explain how you were able to use the fence post to be able to change angles with the protractor with still being a snug fit so air isnt lost through the holes?
I'm not sure we ever figured out the best place to drill the holes. We realized there was too much air coming out too soon, so we added vent holes to allow the mass to accelerate more before compressing the air. This was all built through experimentation... I hope you figure out a way to do it better than we did
Simply gravity... The falling weight is carefully sized to be exactly the same size as the pipe. (layers of tape were added so that it would be a snug fit. The falling weight just compressed the air in the pipe- as it is forced out the side pipe, the projectile is launched.
@@d6mallik Yes... find a food can that is the same diameter as the pipe... fill it with fishing weights... wrap with tape or plastic to ensure a good fit.
@@savoryseaweed495 Yes... that is why you practice it first.... figure out where to point the laser for each desired distance. It takes a lot of trial to calibrate the set-up
So for your bucket design (2015) how’s you connect the launch pipe and the beach ball while reducing air loss, and what’d u do to keep the actual launch pipe upright.
The pipe was connected to the ball and the bottom of the bucket with a bathroom sink drain (purchased from a hardware store) The launch pipe was held largely with friction
Also, how long was your drop tower, I don't mean to copy this, I just need a references for what design I want to build for this years upcoming competitions
hey, so I built the second design you showed, but I’m having trouble with consistently getting the ping pong ball to stay in its place. Do you have any tips, or was there anything specific you did to mitigate this?
@@TMartScienceThank you for answering, I appreciate the quick reply. I had another question regarding how where you drop the weight from affects the kinematics of the system. Would releasing the weight from a lower height make the projectile go further?
what would you do different if you did this again - it seems like there should not be anything that makes it better. Perhaps the intervals the weight is dropped or the number of holes?
What did you use to connect the pvc pipe with the falling weight to the pvc pipe that shoots out the ball? If it is possible, do you think you could provide a materials list? Would be much appreciated, thanks!
The fitting used was just a T fitting... All of the parts were just pushed together by hand, no glue necessary. As far as material list, you can see all of the parts, the best thing you can do is go to a hardware store and try and figure out what they have and come up with your own improvements on the design.
Hi this video was really helpful, last year we did a similar model in SciOly without the laser and the accuracy was pretty off. This year we plan to add a laser but all the lasers available for purchase are quite large so could you let us now where we could purchase a similar laser of the kind shown in the video?
Hi. I think that in order for the ball to be launched at all, there needs to be an enclosed air chamber in between the piston weight and the ball so that there is enough air pressure to push the ball out. How did you enclose that kind air chamber in your design, if there even was one? Are there other alternatives to create pressure for the ball to be launched? Thanks, this video is a big help!
No enclosed air chamber required. As you can see, additional holes were drilled in the drop tower to release some of the pressure so there was not too much.
@@PegasusPlayzYT it was a recycled metal can filled with fishing weights. Duct tape was used to increase the diameter until it was a perfect fit for the pipe
@ChandiGarg the best thing you can do is go to your local home improvement store and find the the pieces that work... There are multiple combinations of parts that will do the same thing
Hi, I am currently using a similar design to your 2016 design but my cannon can only send the ping pong ball about 5 meters maximum. Do you have any tips on how to maximize distance?
Hi, so the mass is airtight and all but it still doesn’t seem to shoot the ball out far? Did your mass hit all the way to the ground and hit the wood on the bottom? Or was there a technique in how you released it? I just don’t understand how it still is a mass that is basically airtight and not shooting the ball out at all from our pvc.
The mass did not fall the whole way to the bottom... I believe we put some material in to use up the airspace below the exit pipe.... If that makes sense. I believe we may have also used some material to lubricate the falling mass...
Alright, we made the exit space become airtight however it still doesn’t fully shoot the ball out, did you guys perhaps use max weight, is there any additional information I should take into account to maximize the speed of this mass and the output of it shooting far?
@@user-qs5fu1of2q there are hundreds of small variables to take into account... In order to make more suggestions, I would need to see what you have built and how you are operating it... Part of the wonderful thing about science Olympiad is the experimentation... It will take a lot of trial and error to optimize your device. The more you practice, the more you experiment, the more you will learn about the functionality... That's engineering!
Hey, thank you so much for your video but, i was just wondering is there any actual correlation between the labeled numbers you made? Or is it rather just an indication of each possible drop point in your 2016 piston design and through experimentation you can personally figure out the combinations for levels and angles for a desired target? Thanks in advanced
Hi, I was a little confused on how you made the drop weight for the second build? I have already tried many many variations and none of them work. Thanks!
@@TMartScience If it's not too much to ask for, could you perhaps send the stl files for the laser pointer? I have no idea how to design one and I think your design is very very smart. Thanks!
Hey ..Really nice video. ..How did you inflate the beach ball, cant seem to figure that out..and How do you keep the beach ball from deflating once you fill it up? Did you have to use special valves?
HELLO TMART SCIENCE! I really wanted to ask if you can post the 3d model for your laser sight holder because I want to use it for my design but I don’t know how to design the 3D model. THANKS!
@@syedalamdarhussain8491there are lots of free softwares to learn 3D printing. I strongly encourage you to teach yourself basic design as that will be an invaluable skill later on. I no longer have this file... Besides, it was to fit a laser that was 20 years old...
Would you be able to describe how you might be able to get the most maximum distance with the piston? I have replicated ur design, however, it doesn’t reach 8m, in fact it only goes to a maximum of 4m from each angle.
@@manitsingh2936 The laser was just an inexpensive laser pointer from another project... Anything would work. Green is typically brighter which makes it easier to see in a well lit room.
Hi, good video but I have a question. For your 2016 design how did you make you ball go a farther distance because i am using your same design but my ping pong ball is only ping about 1 meter. so what should i do to make my ping pong ball further. also did you use any lining on the bottom of your design to stop a loud noise from the weight?
This has been answered with other comments... Diameter of the barrel is important, as are vent holes on the side.... some cloth or rubber on the bottom can cushion the landing.
There is a force called GRAVITY.... that is usually what makes things fall. I think maybe your question needs to be rephrased... I'd be happy to try and answer a more specific question.
So we built almost the exact same thing, but we attached a plunger sort of seal at the base of the 4 inch pipe and for the weight, we took a pvc end cap, stuck it together with a 3 inch pvc pipe, and put a rubber gasket around it to create a seal so when the weight drops it would push all the air to the ping pong ball, but it’s not going anywhere, only around 2 m for some reason, do you have any advice to fix this?
@@abhishekgarg3945 Go to the local hardware store and see what they have. This video is meant to give you a basic idea .. hopefully you can improve the design and build a better one!
We made the weight by putting all the fishing weights we had in the garage into a metal can that was wrapped in tape until it fit the pipe. BE CREATIVE!
@@__buzz__ The vent holes are supposed to help so try that. But also remember that the diameters of the ping ball ball and the barrell should be the same.
Does diameter affect the airflow? We used a 3 inch pvc for the weight to go into with no holes drilled and it didn't go very far. How can we make it go farther?
@@cow1723 we used a 4 in PVC pipe for the drop tower, the combination of holes along the side allowed air to escape until a final compression burst. This along with carefully sized and fitted barrel was essential for getting the distance
@@cow1723 you may need to experiment with this... Like I have noted elsewhere, rules and requirements change from year to year. This was as built 9 years ago and I no longer have the device
@@pgninfinexcorporation8711 Practice! .... Shoot the ball, see where it lands, point the laser at that spot. Record all the settings. Then try again... And again... And again!
@@pgninfinexcorporation8711 just like you need to make adjustments to angle force of the dropping weight, you will need to calibrate the laser sight. The other thing is that the laser is useful for getting the orientation in the correct direction.
Hi! For you 2015 ball design, could you tell me which kinds of weights you used? I’m struggling right now because we need 20 lbs right now to launch the projectile, but we can’t find anything that would fit inside the dropped container!
I do not know if ping pong balls come in different sizes.... We used a standard 3 star ping pong ball and it fit fairly well in the one and a half inch PVC pipe
great video! i was just wondering how long each of these took to build, from the planning to finishing the actual build and doing testing? i am just looking for a rough estimate of things to make sure im not behind for the competitions.
We also found that changing the mass did not change the distance that much. We only used one mass. The vent holes along the side of the tower were very useful too. Allow some air to escape so that the projectile did not fire too quickly
The height was dictated by the competition rules. We used as tall as permitted. The vents were located to release air on the drop. If you cut too many holes, you can always patch them with something like packing tape. You have to experiment and see what works best
Hi! Just wondering, for the 2015 design, did you have to do any sealant on the pipes and also where did you get the pipe that the ball shoots out? We have been looking at different hardware stores but many of the pipes are extremely long
Almost all of the joints were just pushed together, hand tight, no glue or sealant. Most of the supplies, came from our garage from various home projects. The barrel pipe is one and a half inch PVC... Some hardware stores sell this in short pieces
A racquetball is heavier, so less influenced by air currents. A ping pong ball does not weigh as much so does not take as much air to get it moving.... This is why we used a ping pong ball
Hi, my group took inspiration from your ball design, and right now we are coming up with the calculations. Is there an equation to find the initial velocity of the projectile from the mass and drop height of the dropped weight? When we use Ug=KE to find the initial velocity of the projectile, it’s giving us an incorrect initial velocity
Trying to do any serious calculations with this device would be next to impossible. Calculating the fluid dynamics of the moving air that is compressed from the following weight, frictional forces, turbulent flow, and so forth.... If you want to calculate and make some predictions, your best bet will be to graph experimental data and then see if you can find a relationship that approximates what you are achieving.
I’m not an expert but because the surface that makes the ball is light it shouldn’t collapse into itself without outside forces (correct me if I’m wrong)
@@TMartScience oh okay thank you! Also, what did you mean by “fittings” (1st design) and what did you use as an air chamber (ex. Beach ball, 2 liter bottle being pressed by a force) in your 2nd design
@@PegasusPlayzYT The ball was one of the big round balls that you can get at a store like Walmart... Regarding sink drain fittings, this can be acquired from a place like a home improvement store....
I appreciate the request, but science is not and SHOULD not be a "cook-book" activity! While it would not take long to come up with a materials list, I have not provided this b/c This device was not built from "ideal parts" . It was built by looking for leftover bits and pieces in our garage... re-use and re-purposing materials is the way to go.
Found objects are typically a better route than ordering.... see comment above, we found a can that was similar diameter, then filled the can with fishing weights.
We found a metal food can that was similar in size to the PVC diameter, then Filled the can with fishing weights. To ensure a snug fit, the outside of the can was wrapped with tape
@@Franklin_Saint_ yes, clearly something is wrong and it must not have been built the same way... I would have to know more details... Did the ball deflate? Is the ball opening sealed to the drain pipe? Are there other leaks in the system?
The ball is fully inflated and sealed to the drain pipe. As far as I know there no leaks. The ping pong ball flys halfway up the barrel but then stops there. Is it an air issue?
@@Franklin_Saint_ what size of pipe are you using? Is the pipe similar in size to the projectile? If air can get around the projectile, it will. Just like in a gun or canon, the projectile must be basically the same size as the bore diameter.
@@Rouge-h2h Read the previous comments, it was all the fishing weights that we had in the garage. Stuffed into a can that was the right size compared to the PVC pipe
Hello! I made a similar design to the piston device that you made with some of my own modifications. The issue that I am finding is that as soon as the pressure behind the ping pong ball is enough to launch it, it will launch. This happens regardless of how much air has been compressed/how far the mass has fallen, leading to very little pressure to actually launch the ball any distance. Sorry to bother, I know that it’s been several years since you made this. But if you did run into this issue/have any pointers, it would be incredibly helpful. No pressure and thank you for making this video! I’ve watched it so many times because I love how the air volume is higher and is going to be more consistent than an air bladder. Thanks!! -Kitnarp
This is what the large holes are for on the side of the drop tower... they release a lot of the pressure until the mass gains enough speed for the final compression.
Do the holes on the PVC of 2016 model where the weight is dropped affect the actual performance? What if we had used a normal 4 inch by 2 feet pipe without any holes?
My logic behind this is if the weight drops down a tube with holes doesn't the collected air while the weight is falling down the pipe leave through the holes?
@@TMartScience An additional question I had was what the purpose of the toilet flange on the 2016 model is. It seems to not be attached to the PVCT but instead be a ring around it, does it serve some sort of purpose?
How much did the mass weigh for your second design and what substance did you use to glue them together? Will it damage the bottom when it strikes? How many holes should be drill to release pressure?
1 The mass was all of the fishing weights that we had in the garage... 2 No glue... Melted....3 we put some scrap foam at the bottom. 4 Experiment with your design!!!
@@John-u8p2y I understand... Like I said we just used what we had... Part of the point of science Olympiad is experimentation. Maybe you can improve on our design
It was attached with clear packing tape. Align a protractor along the length of the barrel, put tape on one side, then fold it over and put tape on the other side
Hi, besides using metals, what other recommendations would you give for the falling mass? we're trying to follow your second design with a 4 inch diameter cylinder.
@@TMartScience do you think if i made this i would need the mass? Also i took a trrip to my local hardware store but couldn't find anything to use for the falling mass what would you recommend?
@@vihaanj5560 You have lots of options... we used fishing weights... but you can use anything.... Part of this competition is experimentation.... maybe you can find a better configuration!
As explained in the video, a bathroom sink drain was used. This compression fitting went into a hole in the ball and can easily be attached to other PVC pipe
So we built almost the exact same thing, but we attached a plunger sort of seal at the base of the 4 inch pipe and for the weight, we took a pvc end cap, stuck it together with a 3 inch pvc pipe, and put a rubber gasket around it to create a seal so when the weight drops it would push all the air to the ping pong ball, but it’s not going anywhere, only around 2 m for some reason, do you have any advice to fix this?
Hello, I would just like to thank you for how helpful this video has been throughout what has been an up and down SciOly season for Air Trajectory. I was able to get 1st recently at the SEPA regionals and am looking forward to competing in states as well!
How do you know where to place the vent holes and what sizes they should be? I am currently building a similar pvc drop tower and I didn’t want to make any holes until I am sure of how big and where I want them to be, so wondering if there is a standard or how you knew yours. I also wanted to know if there was a certain distance from the bottom that should have no holes in order to be used to compress the air, and if so what would that distance be?
What would would happen if we didn’t use the vent holes on the side of the drop chamber? Would that be a reason for the ball not going as far as it should be going (2nd design)
Vent holes allow the weight to drop fully, if there were no vent holes, then the weight wouldn't be able to go all the way down the drop tower due to compressed air building up underneath it.
@@Uman_i exactly correct
Also, Would it be possible to loan or buy the weight from you?
@@vedant-n5e It really is not difficult to make... That is the point of Science Olympiad! Experiment!
hi there! I’m using a pretty similar design to the second one in that i have a mass holder (I 3d printed) sliding down the main PVC tube acting as a piston. The issue is, it just doesn’t fire the ball near far enough (maybe a m or two?) I think it’s because there is friction, so I am going to grease everything up, but how different in size was the mass thing vs the inner diameter of the pvc? i think mine is getting caught on the wall and slowing down so the ball doesn’t really fire much at all! Thank you for all the help
Is the pipe from where the ping pong ball comes out 2 in?
No 1 1/2"
1 1/2"
I would like to know the 3d printed laser holder design
Hey, how much did your mass weigh for the second design, and how did you create the mass in the second design, did you melt lead ingots and molded it?
can you explain how you loaded the mass into the drop tower i was confused.
How did you set the bolt at different heights? The S hook looks too big to slot through the small holes you have the bolt rest in.
The bolt was pushed halfway in the tower, then slid through the hook, then out to the other side. Moving the bolt up and down through the holes was a key adjustment feature
what is the angle of the laser holder and what is the design of the laser. Can you please post the design of the laser holder if possible
@@abhishekgarg3945 This was not a kit...the angle was changeable ...size was based on an old 20 year old laser... build on based on something you have
for the falling mass, how did you seal the can after putting fishing weights inside?
@@re876es tape
For the second design, how did you get the weight to fit perfectly and still slide down easily?
Tape...
Hello. How did you secure the beach ball inside the bucket to the pipe for the 2015 design?
It is described at 1:13 in the video
Did you glue the ball to the sink drain?
@@lindseyngo5766 sink drains have a compression fitting, no glue
Can you explain how you use the protractor, string, and the written angles to figure out the angle?
the string with a weight will hang strait down... just attach the string to the center of the protractor to measure the angle
How did you make the 4-inch weight that perfectly fit into the tube? Also wouldn't the air just go up? How did you get it to go through the elbow tube?
@@ChandiGarg we looked through our recycle bin and found a steel can that was close to the right size. Then added duct tape until it was a perfect fit. Once the weight/ piston was falling down, the only place air could go was through the hole at the bottom
Could you explain for the second design (the one with the two connected pvcs and the elbow, the air pressure system in that pvc that distributes air to the second launching pvc that shoots the ball? I don’t get how after the mass gets dropped, what the air pressure system would be hit and how it would go into the second pvc. Also was it some sort of foot launcher or balloon? and also how was the ping pong ball stored, did it go all the way to the elbow or was it stored straight on the launching pvc and how.
Yes, the ping pong ball went all the way down to the elbow. There was no balloon or other air storage that was hit with the mass, the mass was tightly fit to the diameter of the pipe forming a piston that compressed the air. No need for anything else
Does the size of the piston matter? If the diameter is bigger, would that affect the performance/be better?
@@dhruvgarg2909 of course the size of the Piston matters. It should be as close as possible to the inside diameter of the pipe. If it is loose, it will not generate compression.
@@TMartScience What's your recommended size for the diameter of the pvc, if using a racquetball?
@@dhruvgarg2909 any pipe that fits. Take a ball into a hardware store and see which one works! That's what we did. What we found worked best for a racquetball was the pipe to support chain link fences.
@@TMartScience Thank you. Is incorporating a pully system for the weight smart? Or is drilling holes in the pvc to put the pencil through better?
@@dhruvgarg2909 sounds like you have good plans for an experiment... It would be great to know that other people have improved this design
Hi I was wondering if you could explain how you were able to use the fence post to be able to change angles with the protractor with still being a snug fit so air isnt lost through the holes?
To change angles, just twist the pipe... do not glue in place. Some air is lost through the holes but not a significant amount
So with the pvc design you need to put vent holes in order for the ping pong ball to not come out prematurely?
What kind of toilet flange did you use, was it like a 4in diameter one with like some inches going inside the drop tower?
We used a 4" one that fit on the outside of the pipe not the inside... but you could likely get both to work
Hello, how did you figure out where to drill the vent holes?
I'm not sure we ever figured out the best place to drill the holes. We realized there was too much air coming out too soon, so we added vent holes to allow the mass to accelerate more before compressing the air. This was all built through experimentation... I hope you figure out a way to do it better than we did
Hey! What did you use for the bladder of the first design you showed? It seems like it works great for our design this year!
This was a toy ball purchased from a large box store.
how do you go about generating the energy from the falling weight? is there another air source that is providing the pressure?
Simply gravity... The falling weight is carefully sized to be exactly the same size as the pipe. (layers of tape were added so that it would be a snug fit. The falling weight just compressed the air in the pipe- as it is forced out the side pipe, the projectile is launched.
@@TMartScience Any idea how to make this falling weight ?
@@d6mallik Yes... find a food can that is the same diameter as the pipe... fill it with fishing weights... wrap with tape or plastic to ensure a good fit.
Also, what object did the weight fall on for the second one? A beachball?
@@ChandiGarg The weight/ piston was appropriate size for the pipe so it compressed air at the base of the pipe... No air bladder necessary
Hey, fantastic video- I was wondering how you configured the laser to predicate where the ball will land. It's something we are struggling with
Practice, practice, practice... This was all done experimentally
Yeah like if you increased the drop height then wouldn’t your laser pointer be way off. Wouldn’t you have to constantly change the laser p.
@@savoryseaweed495 That's why you need lots of calibration test shots. So you know where to point it for each drop
@@savoryseaweed495 Yes... that is why you practice it first.... figure out where to point the laser for each desired distance. It takes a lot of trial to calibrate the set-up
Where did you order the 4 inch diameter pipe, the toilet flange connector, laser, and the support for the 4 inch beam
No order... go to the hardware store and look for all the pieces
Hi, I was wondering what format of blueprint you used for tryouts. Do you recommend CAD?
No blueprints were used, as this was adapted from previous iterations
So for your bucket design (2015) how’s you connect the launch pipe and the beach ball while reducing air loss, and what’d u do to keep the actual launch pipe upright.
The pipe was connected to the ball and the bottom of the bucket with a bathroom sink drain (purchased from a hardware store) The launch pipe was held largely with friction
what is the angle fo the laser holder and what si the design. Can you please post the design of the holder if possible
Also, how long was your drop tower, I don't mean to copy this, I just need a references for what design I want to build for this years upcoming competitions
@@magnusmartinez2658 it was built as high as the regulations allowed. That year there was a limit on height
hey, so I built the second design you showed, but I’m having trouble with consistently getting the ping pong ball to stay in its place. Do you have any tips, or was there anything specific you did to mitigate this?
You may insert a small piece of plastic down at the end of the barrel to prevent the ball from going too far down
@@TMartScienceThank you for answering, I appreciate the quick reply. I had another question regarding how where you drop the weight from affects the kinematics of the system. Would releasing the weight from a lower height make the projectile go further?
@@karandoshi2537 a lot will depend on your specific design and setup... experiment and find out!!! That's what this whole competition is about!
what angle would the laser be at if the tube was angled at 45 degrees?
@@abhishekgarg3945 it should be adjustable so you can align it with where the ball lands. You have to experiment!
what would you do different if you did this again - it seems like there should not be anything that makes it better. Perhaps the intervals the weight is dropped or the number of holes?
Rules change a bit each year... I would have to evaluate the current rules...
What did you use to connect the pvc pipe with the falling weight to the pvc pipe that shoots out the ball? If it is possible, do you think you could provide a materials list? Would be much appreciated, thanks!
The fitting used was just a T fitting... All of the parts were just pushed together by hand, no glue necessary. As far as material list, you can see all of the parts, the best thing you can do is go to a hardware store and try and figure out what they have and come up with your own improvements on the design.
Hi this video was really helpful, last year we did a similar model in SciOly without the laser and the accuracy was pretty off. This year we plan to add a laser but all the lasers available for purchase are quite large so could you let us now where we could purchase a similar laser of the kind shown in the video?
@@susisha7681 The laser shown in the video was over 30 years old... It was purchased before online shopping was a thing.
@@TMartScienceOhh, could you possibly recommend a store or the say the model of the laser?
Hi. I think that in order for the ball to be launched at all, there needs to be an enclosed air chamber in between the piston weight and the ball so that there is enough air pressure to push the ball out. How did you enclose that kind air chamber in your design, if there even was one? Are there other alternatives to create pressure for the ball to be launched? Thanks, this video is a big help!
No enclosed air chamber required. As you can see, additional holes were drilled in the drop tower to release some of the pressure so there was not too much.
Thank you! Very helpful video.
Hi, do you know how you made the falling mass? Like what type of container did you use
@@PegasusPlayzYT it was a recycled metal can filled with fishing weights. Duct tape was used to increase the diameter until it was a perfect fit for the pipe
can you explain construction of the dropping weight ?
see other comments.... this has been answered
Hi, I was wondering what you used for the base in the 2015 design and what weight you used as well. (Air trajectory is back this year)
Read other comments and replies about the weight... The base was a PVC toilet flange
what is the size of the reducing bushing, and is it plan on the outside or does it have the ridges
@@ChandiGarg The size of the reducing bushing will depend on what you plan to use for the projectile.
i want to use a ping-pong ball, so same as yours
@ChandiGarg the best thing you can do is go to your local home improvement store and find the the pieces that work... There are multiple combinations of parts that will do the same thing
Hi, I am currently using a similar design to your 2016 design but my cannon can only send the ping pong ball about 5 meters maximum. Do you have any tips on how to maximize distance?
Make sure the following mass slides easily in the drop tower and make sure that it is tight so you do not lose air
how much weight did you use?@@TMartScience
@@davutseker7119 ... all the loose fishing weights that we had in the garage. Part of the point is to experiment with what you have!
Hi, so the mass is airtight and all but it still doesn’t seem to shoot the ball out far? Did your mass hit all the way to the ground and hit the wood on the bottom? Or was there a technique in how you released it? I just don’t understand how it still is a mass that is basically airtight and not shooting the ball out at all from our pvc.
The mass did not fall the whole way to the bottom... I believe we put some material in to use up the airspace below the exit pipe.... If that makes sense. I believe we may have also used some material to lubricate the falling mass...
Alright, we made the exit space become airtight however it still doesn’t fully shoot the ball out, did you guys perhaps use max weight, is there any additional information I should take into account to maximize the speed of this mass and the output of it shooting far?
@@user-qs5fu1of2q there are hundreds of small variables to take into account... In order to make more suggestions, I would need to see what you have built and how you are operating it... Part of the wonderful thing about science Olympiad is the experimentation... It will take a lot of trial and error to optimize your device. The more you practice, the more you experiment, the more you will learn about the functionality... That's engineering!
Is there a way I am able to contact you further for you to help us figure this out?
@@user-qs5fu1of2q you can message tmartclimber "at" Gmail
Hey, thank you so much for your video but, i was just wondering is there any actual correlation between the labeled numbers you made? Or is it rather just an indication of each possible drop point in your 2016 piston design and through experimentation you can personally figure out the combinations for levels and angles for a desired target? Thanks in advanced
The numbers are just for reference and repeatability, nothing takes the place of experimenting and practice
For the 2016 design did it go from a 4 in to a 2 in
No ....4" pipe with 4" x 2" Tee... Then a 1 1/2" reducing bushing, and elbow, to the 1 1/2" pipe
Hi, I was a little confused on how you made the drop weight for the second build? I have already tried many many variations and none of them work. Thanks!
We put metal fishing weights into an appropriately sized steel can, and wrapped it with tape.
@@TMartScience If it's not too much to ask for, could you perhaps send the stl files for the laser pointer? I have no idea how to design one and I think your design is very very smart. Thanks!
@@ryanfang2990 I know this was designed on tinkercad. But no longer have the laser or the file...
How did the pressure build up in your first design(2015) and what valve/mechanism did you use to automatically release the pressure
The beach ball was loosely inflated, then a heavy mass was dropped on it. No. Valves no pressure buildup except for the falling object on the ball
Do you put anything on the bottom of the flange to cushion the weight? I tried putting some foam on the bottom, but it's still doing damage to it
Yes we used a neoprene like rubber...
Hey ..Really nice video. ..How did you inflate the beach ball, cant seem to figure that out..and How do you keep the beach ball from deflating once you fill it up? Did you have to use special valves?
Ball was inflated with a trash bag filled with air, held over the barrel
HELLO TMART SCIENCE! I really wanted to ask if you can post the 3d model for your laser sight holder because I want to use it for my design but I don’t know how to design the 3D model.
THANKS!
@@syedalamdarhussain8491there are lots of free softwares to learn 3D printing. I strongly encourage you to teach yourself basic design as that will be an invaluable skill later on. I no longer have this file... Besides, it was to fit a laser that was 20 years old...
Hi! What was inside the pvc tube in the drop tower as an air chamber for the falling mass to hit it?
Nothing... Just air
@@TMartScience so the mass just fell to the bottom and the ball would be launched?
@@PegasusPlayzYT Yes, keep in mind the seal of the dropping mass as well as the vent holes along the side are all important for this design.
@@TMartScience how does the design have good consistency with the ball?
@@PegasusPlayzYT fewer changes in starting conditions= more predictable results
Would you be able to describe how you might be able to get the most maximum distance with the piston? I have replicated ur design, however, it doesn’t reach 8m, in fact it only goes to a maximum of 4m from each angle.
I would have to see your device to see what was different...
How did the toilet flange part work?
@@ChandiGarg It simply was used as a base to screw down the tower
hi, in the second design, what did you make the drop tower out of? Also, how tall was the drop tower and what was the diameter
4" PVC pipe... height was dictated by the contest rules.
what kind of laser did you use for the project??
@@manitsingh2936 The laser was just an inexpensive laser pointer from another project... Anything would work. Green is typically brighter which makes it easier to see in a well lit room.
what brand raquet ball are you using? I have been struggling to find a ball that fits my 2.25 in barrel
I don't remember... It took a lot of trial and error to find one that fit
Hi, good video but I have a question. For your 2016 design how did you make you ball go a farther distance because i am using your same design but my ping pong ball is only ping about 1 meter. so what should i do to make my ping pong ball further. also did you use any lining on the bottom of your design to stop a loud noise from the weight?
This has been answered with other comments... Diameter of the barrel is important, as are vent holes on the side.... some cloth or rubber on the bottom can cushion the landing.
How did u make the mass to drop down the 4 inch pipe?
There is a force called GRAVITY.... that is usually what makes things fall. I think maybe your question needs to be rephrased... I'd be happy to try and answer a more specific question.
So we built almost the exact same thing, but we attached a plunger sort of seal at the base of the 4 inch pipe and for the weight, we took a pvc end cap, stuck it together with a 3 inch pvc pipe, and put a rubber gasket around it to create a seal so when the weight drops it would push all the air to the ping pong ball, but it’s not going anywhere, only around 2 m for some reason, do you have any advice to fix this?
drill holes in pvc, watch in slow mo exact time ball launches out of the pvc
can you tell me the dimensions of the tee, reducing busing, elbow, the bottom wood, toilet thing, and both pvc pipes.
@@abhishekgarg3945 Go to the local hardware store and see what they have. This video is meant to give you a basic idea .. hopefully you can improve the design and build a better one!
Hey! I was wondering what weight you used for the second design? How much did it weigh and what material did you use? Thanks’
We made the weight by putting all the fishing weights we had in the garage into a metal can that was wrapped in tape until it fit the pipe. BE CREATIVE!
Our ball isn't really getting far in our second design. It is not going past 5.5 meters, and we are trying to get to 8 meters. Any advice?
Have you drilled vent holes
no, but the mass is sliding down with no problem@@TMartScience
@@__buzz__ The vent holes are supposed to help so try that. But also remember that the diameters of the ping ball ball and the barrell should be the same.
Does diameter affect the airflow? We used a 3 inch pvc for the weight to go into with no holes drilled and it didn't go very far. How can we make it go farther?
Yes diameter matters...air flow and compression is essential
@@TMartScience Yes, but I was wondering how we could make it go further, as it only goes around 2 meters.
@@cow1723 we used a 4 in PVC pipe for the drop tower, the combination of holes along the side allowed air to escape until a final compression burst. This along with carefully sized and fitted barrel was essential for getting the distance
@@TMartScience Thank you for the answer, really appreciate it. Just wondering, but what was the distance between each hole?
@@cow1723 you may need to experiment with this... Like I have noted elsewhere, rules and requirements change from year to year. This was as built 9 years ago and I no longer have the device
How did you set the laser so it would give u where to shoot?
@@pgninfinexcorporation8711 Practice! .... Shoot the ball, see where it lands, point the laser at that spot. Record all the settings. Then try again... And again... And again!
@@TMartScience oh so do you adjust the laser each time or
@@pgninfinexcorporation8711 just like you need to make adjustments to angle force of the dropping weight, you will need to calibrate the laser sight. The other thing is that the laser is useful for getting the orientation in the correct direction.
Hi! For you 2015 ball design, could you tell me which kinds of weights you used? I’m struggling right now because we need 20 lbs right now to launch the projectile, but we can’t find anything that would fit inside the dropped container!
We just use fishing weights,... No need for that much weight if the diameter of the weight matches the inside diameter of your pipe
Do you remember if the toilet flange had a barrel going into the pvc tee, or did the toilet flange just sit on the outside of the tee?
It depends on your fitting, you could use either one
Hi! I was wondering how you lifted the weight back up once it fell down the PVC pipe in the second design. Thank you!
The long rod with the hook on the end
Ohh okay, got it. Thank you so much!
@@TMartScienceWhat type of hook is that called.
@@shivpat6522 i think eye hook
For the 2016 design, did you use a 38mm ping pong ball to fit in the barrel?
I do not know if ping pong balls come in different sizes.... We used a standard 3 star ping pong ball and it fit fairly well in the one and a half inch PVC pipe
great video! i was just wondering how long each of these took to build, from the planning to finishing the actual build and doing testing? i am just looking for a rough estimate of things to make sure im not behind for the competitions.
2 weeks building, then adjusting 2 months
I was able to build these design very quickly talking less than a week for both
I made three weighs, 1.5kg, 3.5kg and 4.9 kg. The distances the balls shoot are similar. Do you know why? I want to increase the distance.
We also found that changing the mass did not change the distance that much. We only used one mass. The vent holes along the side of the tower were very useful too. Allow some air to escape so that the projectile did not fire too quickly
Did you found an ideal weight of mass? we made mass with concrete and fishing weight.@@TMartScience
How tall is your 4" PVC? Could you explain the locations of the air vents?
The height was dictated by the competition rules. We used as tall as permitted. The vents were located to release air on the drop. If you cut too many holes, you can always patch them with something like packing tape. You have to experiment and see what works best
Hi! Just wondering, for the 2015 design, did you have to do any sealant on the pipes and also where did you get the pipe that the ball shoots out? We have been looking at different hardware stores but many of the pipes are extremely long
Almost all of the joints were just pushed together, hand tight, no glue or sealant. Most of the supplies, came from our garage from various home projects. The barrel pipe is one and a half inch PVC... Some hardware stores sell this in short pieces
For the second design, how did you make the weight?
Please Read previous comments
how did you get the laser to perfectley aim at the ball
Lots of practice!
Hello, so I had a question if I should use a racquet ball or a ping pong ball?
A racquetball is heavier, so less influenced by air currents. A ping pong ball does not weigh as much so does not take as much air to get it moving.... This is why we used a ping pong ball
Do you have a design log for this?
No... that was not the intent of this video... besides the design regulations change from year to year.
Hi, my group took inspiration from your ball design, and right now we are coming up with the calculations. Is there an equation to find the initial velocity of the projectile from the mass and drop height of the dropped weight? When we use Ug=KE to find the initial velocity of the projectile, it’s giving us an incorrect initial velocity
Trying to do any serious calculations with this device would be next to impossible. Calculating the fluid dynamics of the moving air that is compressed from the following weight, frictional forces, turbulent flow, and so forth.... If you want to calculate and make some predictions, your best bet will be to graph experimental data and then see if you can find a relationship that approximates what you are achieving.
When you inflate the beach ball with the trash bag and then remove it, how did the beach ball not deflate back?
I’m not an expert but because the surface that makes the ball is light it shouldn’t collapse into itself without outside forces (correct me if I’m wrong)
The ball did loose some air, but was semi rigid so it partly kept its shape. Ultimately, this is one of the reasons why we built the other design.
@@TMartScience oh okay thank you! Also, what did you mean by “fittings” (1st design) and what did you use as an air chamber (ex. Beach ball, 2 liter bottle being pressed by a force) in your 2nd design
@@PegasusPlayzYT The ball was one of the big round balls that you can get at a store like Walmart... Regarding sink drain fittings, this can be acquired from a place like a home improvement store....
@@TMartScience okay, thank you!
Can you tell me every single material you used to build this
For the 2016 version it would be really helpful
I want to build the exact same thing for my state competition
I appreciate the request, but science is not and SHOULD not be a "cook-book" activity! While it would not take long to come up with a materials list, I have not provided this b/c This device was not built from "ideal parts" . It was built by looking for leftover bits and pieces in our garage... re-use and re-purposing materials is the way to go.
Yeah, I know but it would be really helpful if you could tell us. I would really appreciate it.@@TMartScience
@@sahasmalla2844 look at the device, and make it better! There is a lot that I would do different next time around...
what did you use for the weights and where do you get it?
Please read previous comments...
@@TMartScience yeah this was posted before
Hi I am really sorry to bother you but can you tell me the measurements and the angles from the second device?
Angles were variable, and size was dictated by the rules and requirements in the competition guidelines... Experiment and see what works best for you
@@TMartScience ok Thank you
where does the string come out of?
We had the trigger string come out of one of the holes on the side of the drop tower
How tall is the second build in cm?
This was built to the 2016 regulation size. Look at the current guidelines and maximize the size of your drop tower.
Can you please let me know where you made the weight? I want to order the same kind?
Found objects are typically a better route than ordering.... see comment above, we found a can that was similar diameter, then filled the can with fishing weights.
How did you make that mass for the 2016 model?
We found a metal food can that was similar in size to the PVC diameter, then Filled the can with fishing weights. To ensure a snug fit, the outside of the can was wrapped with tape
@@TMartSciencehow were u able to make it into one cohesive mass? With glue? Melting the metal? And did u attach the eye hooks
@TmartScience same question ?
I used your first design and when I dropped the mass the ping pong ball didn’t move
Do you know what the problem is
If you watch the video, you would see that the first device did not use a ping pong ball. This was designed to launch a racquetball
I used a racquet ball and it still doesn’t work is there something else wrong?
@@Franklin_Saint_ yes, clearly something is wrong and it must not have been built the same way... I would have to know more details... Did the ball deflate? Is the ball opening sealed to the drain pipe? Are there other leaks in the system?
The ball is fully inflated and sealed to the drain pipe. As far as I know there no leaks. The ping pong ball flys halfway up the barrel but then stops there. Is it an air issue?
@@Franklin_Saint_ what size of pipe are you using? Is the pipe similar in size to the projectile? If air can get around the projectile, it will. Just like in a gun or canon, the projectile must be basically the same size as the bore diameter.
Hey is there anyway you could link the laser pointer STL file
this was designed on tinkercad freeware. It would be easier to build yourself depending on the size of the laser that you have.
Of course thank you so much
What was the dimensions of the barrel in the 2016 model?
We're also using a pingpong ball in our design, so were wondering what the dimensions would be.
Will it work for b divison
This was built years ago according to specific rules, please check with current rules and modify accordingly
What size did you use for the pvcs
@@Rouge-h2h the length (height) was based on the competition rules that year. Diameter depending on the projectile you will use
What is the weight thing you used
@@Rouge-h2h Read the previous comments, it was all the fishing weights that we had in the garage. Stuffed into a can that was the right size compared to the PVC pipe
Hello! I made a similar design to the piston device that you made with some of my own modifications. The issue that I am finding is that as soon as the pressure behind the ping pong ball is enough to launch it, it will launch. This happens regardless of how much air has been compressed/how far the mass has fallen, leading to very little pressure to actually launch the ball any distance. Sorry to bother, I know that it’s been several years since you made this. But if you did run into this issue/have any pointers, it would be incredibly helpful. No pressure and thank you for making this video! I’ve watched it so many times because I love how the air volume is higher and is going to be more consistent than an air bladder.
Thanks!! -Kitnarp
It does go a little bit of distance, like
How the other commenter mentioned,
Maybe ~
Having this same issue. How did you fix it?
This is what the large holes are for on the side of the drop tower... they release a lot of the pressure until the mass gains enough speed for the final compression.
see reply above
@@sirjcm-gosubscribetome8630
Nice!!! Super cool
Do the holes on the PVC of 2016 model where the weight is dropped affect the actual performance? What if we had used a normal 4 inch by 2 feet pipe without any holes?
My logic behind this is if the weight drops down a tube with holes doesn't the collected air while the weight is falling down the pipe leave through the holes?
I don't think much air pressure is lost to the holes. By the time the piston/weight falls past the holes, it is accelerating rapidly.
This clearly would be an experiment worth trying!
@@TMartScience For sure! I'm definetely going to try this out for myself! Thank you.
@@TMartScience An additional question I had was what the purpose of the toilet flange on the 2016 model is. It seems to not be attached to the PVCT but instead be a ring around it, does it serve some sort of purpose?
How much did the mass weigh for your second design and what substance did you use to glue them together? Will it damage the bottom when it strikes? How many holes should be drill to release pressure?
1 The mass was all of the fishing weights that we had in the garage... 2 No glue... Melted....3 we put some scrap foam at the bottom. 4 Experiment with your design!!!
@@TMartScience Thanks for you answer. My first question was about how much the mass weighed, not the components.
@@John-u8p2y I understand... Like I said we just used what we had... Part of the point of science Olympiad is experimentation. Maybe you can improve on our design
Hi, can you explain how you attached your protractor to the cannon?
It was attached with clear packing tape. Align a protractor along the length of the barrel, put tape on one side, then fold it over and put tape on the other side
Hi, besides using metals, what other recommendations would you give for the falling mass? we're trying to follow your second design with a 4 inch diameter cylinder.
Any heavy object that can fit into a plastic jar or metal tin that is similar in diameter to the 4-in PVC pipe
Can you plz explain how you loaded the mass into the Drop tower?
@@vihaanj5560 see the video @3:30 and 3:50... using rod with a hook
@@TMartScience do you think if i made this i would need the mass? Also i took a trrip to my local hardware store but couldn't find anything to use for the falling mass what would you recommend?
@@vihaanj5560 You have lots of options... we used fishing weights... but you can use anything.... Part of this competition is experimentation.... maybe you can find a better configuration!
Thank u LOL
ok
Hi! How did you connect the beach ball to the pvc in your first design? Thank you!
As explained in the video, a bathroom sink drain was used. This compression fitting went into a hole in the ball and can easily be attached to other PVC pipe
So we built almost the exact same thing, but we attached a plunger sort of seal at the base of the 4 inch pipe and for the weight, we took a pvc end cap, stuck it together with a 3 inch pvc pipe, and put a rubber gasket around it to create a seal so when the weight drops it would push all the air to the ping pong ball, but it’s not going anywhere, only around 2 m for some reason, do you have any advice to fix this?
What is the diameter of your barrel?
The launching pipe is 1.5” in diameter while the bigger pipe is 4”, we also got it to launch around 5m, but it won’t go any farther than that
You may be getting an early release of the ball... that is what the vent holes were for....@@krishivray
Do u have any advice on where to place them to maximize distance but to not let out too much air?
@@krishivrayyou have many experiments that need to be run... if you make too many holes, you may always cover them up with a strong tape...
Hello, how tall was the drop tower in the 2nd design?
It was as tall as competition rules allowed...
@@TMartScience for the second design, did the mass just drip to the ground and the ping pong ball would be launched right away?
Also, what does the protractor do in the second design?
@@PegasusPlayzYT the protractor has a string and weight to precisely set the launch angle
@@PegasusPlayzYT I don't understand your question
Hi! How did you connect the beach ball to the pvc in your first design? Thank you!
As stated, a hole was cut in the ball, and the ball was attached to a bathroom sink drain. This is just a compression fitting.