Week 2- Progress

So far, I've been able to get the launcher out of Dr. Hofstein's office. It is now in RB 104 and I'm able to work on it more frequently. I've doubled the thickness of the back end of the air tank so that when I drill and thread a hole for the air to enter from an N2 tank I'll have more room for threads. The attachment was successful, now all that is required is to find a drill and tap of the appropriate size so that I can attach the pipe. From there I will use Swagelok to get the hose to the air source. This week I will be searching for tanks to order and if the tap is needed we will order that too. Once it is complete I will slowly feed air into the system and check for leaks. I'll also prepare the remote triggered valve we are using to release the air to fire the projectile.

Week 1- Progress

As of this week, no progress has been made. Unfortunately, my project advisor has not been around in order to allow me access to work on the project independently. Due to the nature of the project involving compressed gases and projectiles. The School of Science has advised that I not do work unless supervised.

However, if were able to get into the lab, I would be checking seals on the launcher we created for our ballistic pendulum. I would create an opening for the air tank and for the nozzle so as to feed Compressed Nitrogen into the system to launch the projectile.

Once the system has a good seal and can handle the load of the compressed air. We will move on to the test fire phase. Using, plexiglass guards and a remote controlled valve, we will release the pressure and send the projectile into our test receptacle. If successful, we will begin full construction of the pendulum portion of the project and set up the slow motion camera and the measuring instruments to gather data.

Initial Summary

Summary of the project: Compressed air cannon made of PVC. Designed to be a ballistic pendulum for non-science majors to discover the wonders of energy and ballistics.