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the background information. |
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In a pneumatic cannon, the main principle at work is combustion. Combustion is the correlation between pressure and the effects it has on a projectile or other content. We will not be testing for the factor of the heat of the pressurized oxygen, but rather how the angle of launch affects the distance of a golf ball will fire from the cannon. Our study will be based upon the transfer of energy from the compressed air to the projectile.
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the review of related literature. |
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The chamber has an airtight seal in order to keep pressure ready for release into the barrel (Parsons 1999). When the air cannon is fully pressurized (Parsons states 100 psi), the valve can be released in order to release the pressure into the barrel, propelling the projectile out of the cannon (Parsons). At this point, the pressure in the chamber "drops to 0 psi" (Parsons). As Newton states, "The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to its mass. The direction of the acceleration is in the direction of the net force acting on an object" (Giancoli 81). Newton's third law claims, "Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second exerts an equal and opposite force on the first." Newton's laws will be key concepts in our research.
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the question. |
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We are investigating the relationship between angle of launch of a projectile and the range of the projectile. The mass of the spherical projectile will remain constant as will the pressure inside the compression chamber. Angle will be the independent variable, and will be adjusted by applying trigonometry.
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the hypothesis. |
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We believe that a forty-five degree angle will project the spherical object the farthest of all the angles we test. The object is launched with optimal air time, without the loss of horizontal distance. Angles below forty-five degrees will not have enough air time to travel a long distance and angles above forty-five degrees will not have enough horizontal direction to go far either.
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