Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi. For my science fair project I have to interview someone. My project is what effect does the amount of rubberbands have on the distance a catapult can fling a ping pong ball. The person I have to interview has to either be employed in a field related to my topic, a person with 1 or more years of experience related to my topic, or anyone with 1 or more years in college related to my topic. These are my topics.

1. What is your name and title?

2. Do you think this topic is interesting, useful, or important? If so, why?

3. When did you first study/learn about catapults and or engineering?

4. What are some important things you have learned about this topic?

5. How can knowledge about this topic be applied to every day life?

6. Does tension affect catapults?

How has/does this wepon affect the the future?

Thank you very much.

I'll be glad to help with your project. Here is my information.


1. What is your name and title? Ed Neu - Executive Director

2. Do you think this topic is interesting, useful, or important? If so, why? This is quite interesting. This was very important to the ancient warriors who used catapults, but is still important today. Part of the training we provide to our engineers ans scientists is called Six Sigma training. It's training in the area of statistics and how they can be used to improve the products we make. In that training, we actually use a catapult, very similar to what you describe, to study the importance of variables in a system.

3. When did you first study/learn about catapults and or engineering? I first studied engineering when I was in 5th grade. I had a friend who's grandfather had designed bridges. He brought me some bridge plans his grandfather had done, and I studied them until I nearly wore them out. I have even worked on bridge design as part of my career.

4. What are some important things you have learned about this topic? There are many "variables" that are important related to a catapult. As you mentioned, there is the amount of rubber bands. How old the rubber bands are becomes important after a while. Also important are the length of the catapult arm, how far it is drawn back, how far forward it is allowed to travel before it hits its stop, and the mass of the object being thrown.

5. How can knowledge about this topic be applied to every day life? As I mentioned, we have used this device to teach engineers how to identify important variables in a system, and how to measure and control them to accurately predict the outcome - in this case, how far the object will be thrown. It is a great tool for teaching these engineering principles.

This is very helpful thanks so much