Project Overview

The project entails designing, analyzing, constructing and reporting on a launcher which will propel a Ping-Pong ball, in flight, for any distance from as little as one foot to a maximum of thirty five feet and have the Ping-Pong ball impact a target point with the highest degree of accuracy.  For the purpose of this project, accuracy, A, is defined by the following relationship: 

where D_t is the distance between the launcher release point and the target, D_r, is the radial deviation from the target to the point of impact, and D_p is the perpendicular deviation from the straight line formed between the launcher and the target to the impact point. 

Each team will be responsible for preparing a project proposal, developing the design itself, and writing a final report.  This team project is the “Integrated Project” portion of your final grade in Chemistry, Engineering, English, Math and Physics.  The proposal and report will be discussed in detail in your English class, but, in each case, the proposal and report will be evaluated by the faculty team for both its technical merit and its style correctness (i.e. report form, spelling, grammar, and the like).  Please be aware that your ability to perform the appropriate analysis in both the proposal and the final report will constitute a significant portion of your project grade. 

Evaluation Overview

The criteria for evaluating your project will be

1.       your written and oral proposal;

2.       a demonstration of the functionality of your design via an accuracy measurement; and

3.       your final report.

 Your creativity will also be given consideration.   

 Remember: This team project is the “Integrated Project” portion of your final grade in Chemistry, Engineering, English, Math and Physics.  Take it seriously and get started early. 

The Proposal

Prior to beginning work on your projects, your team will be completing both a written and an oral project proposal for the faculty team.  Your team may not begin construction of its design until the proposal has been presented and fully accepted!

As part of your proposal/report you MUST include: 1) measurements of horizontal range as a function of any variable launcher parameter(s), as well as a discussion of error analysis; 2) a comparison of experimental data to theoretical predictions; and 3) an estimation of the drag force acting on the Ping-Pong ball based upon your measured data.

You will also be required to submit a budget as part of your proposal/report that will include, in part, your estimate for materials to fabricate your design.  (You should assume that the nominal budget for materials will not exceed $20.03.)  Of course, as with any proposal, your plan may be rejected if the estimated project cost is inconsistent with the estimated project returns.  In addition, the final project grade will take into account the accuracy of your cost estimate, as well as the cost effectiveness of your design. 

For more information on the proposal, see Proposal Requirements and Guidelines. 

The Demonstration

The demonstration will include, but is not limited to, measuring the accuracy of your launcher at three different target distances when the Ping-Pong ball is launched from an indoor location. 

5.

The Written Report

Your final project report may include portions of your written proposal, updated to be current in terms of verb tense and data.  In addition to providing a final design description and budget, your report must include a complete analysis.

• performance measurements from the design competition,

•  a comparison of expected and actual results,

•  a discussion of factors influencing performance outcomes and (if necessary) suggestions for possible changes, and an instruction sheet on how to operate your launcher (an appendix to the report).