Hypo-Thesis

These researchers believe that through Boyles' Law, which states at a constant Kelvin Temperature the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional, that after fuel is poured into our cannon the temperature will cause the the pressure to build up and cause the volume to decrease and cause the ball to explode out. This will be similar to a syringe effect where as pressure builds the volume becomes smaller and forces the liquid out, except our cannon will be using temperature.

Original Planning

Our original plan was to create a cone that would funnel in through the bottom of the second tennis ball can. As shown in the pictures we sketched out what we kind of thought our cannon would turn out as. The ball would go through the top of the first can and rest on the top of the cone. We would then ignite the ethanol, the feul produced by our teachers, and the pressure would build up in the bottom. The cone would funnel all of the pressure into the bottom of the cone creating a strong force propelling the ball through the second tube and carrying it further into the air. We would also make the tubes as short as possible to decrease the volume because the less volume, the more pressure.

Process: Creating Our Cannon

We first created a visual of what we wanted our cannon to end up looking like which would maximize pressure and minimize volume. In short, we came up with a very intelligent design which used a bottom chamber attached to a funnel to force the pressure through a small space onto the abll propelling it farther.

After we came up with our design, we began to make measurements and markings all over our 2 tennis ball cans.

After we made our markings, we cut isoceles triangles out of the sides of the cans which we folded together to create a cone like shape. This allowed the pressure to build up and push out the very tip, through a small space.

After we began to cut our bottles and forge our cannon, everyone got in on the action. Nathan here is cutting, very skillfully, the triangles to take out to create the cone.

Here is another picture of one of our group members, cutting intently on our bottles to help create the cannon.

Jack also helped in carefully cutting the bottles while trying to remain uninjured. (No one was hurt in the making of this cannon).

Last, but not least, was me who was trying to put my plan of a two part cannon with a cone funnel into action.

After we were finished with the hard part of the project, we began to tape up the cannon to secure it and make sure that no air would be released.

This is a picture of our finished product and our group.

FORMER KNOWLEDGE

(p1) x (v1) = (p2) x (v2)
Pressure is inversely proportional to Volume in accordance to Boyle's Gas Law.
Pressure ^, volume v
Pressure v, volume ^