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.

Body Pargraph 1

Initially, our group roamed around the web searching for ideas and plans for cannons, and in accordance with Boyle’s Gas Law, which states that at constant Kelvin temperature, the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to the volume, which led us to create a cannon with a small volume. Furthermore, after viewing the research we created a graphic organizer in which we had many ideas but one prevailed over all, a cone shaped funnel with a top chamber that would hold the ball. This idea seemed to be the best of the beginning ideas considering the fact that it would minimize volume, maximize pressure, and channel that pressure into one spot, the ball. In accordance with Boyle’s Gas Law, our group knew that if we were to decrease the volume we would inversely increase the pressure which was why we made a small bottom chamber to create a stronger propellant. Creating a stronger propellant would be the deciding factor in how far our cannon shot the ball which is why we researched the volume – pressure ratio. In conclusion, Our group saw through meticulous research, that Boyle’s Gas Law was a huge factor in the decision of our cannon making because we knew from this law that the smaller the volume the more pressure was exerted.

Reflection

Our cannon did not shoot the ball out, but instead burned the ball and sat there. This might have been caused because of poor ratio of volume to pressure. This just means that because we had too much volume we had little pressure. Also, jagged edges could have hindered the launch of the ball as well because it could have attached to the ball making it hard to detach. In conclusion, it was mainly the way that we designed our cannon that affected the shooting distance because we had too much volume and not enough pressure. Also, I think that the way our cannon was designed, the cone was not aiming at the middle of the ball which in my eyes would have helped focus more pressure to propel the bal through the air.