The Rubber Band Project has helped several teams compete in the Cantigny Catapult Contest. In 2013 The Rubber Band Project helped one team compete and place in the shot competition. In 2014 The Rubber Band Project helped one Team compete and place third in accuracy. In 2015 The Rubber Band Project helped four teams compete. Three Teams placed.
In 2015 the four Catapults were: Friends Shooting Rainbow, The Launchinator, STEAM Club Catapult, and Clan Frazier.
Three of those catapults placed in two of the three competition categories. Friends Shooting Rainbow cam in 3rd place in the shot group category ( having their shots in a tight group). The Launchinator came in 2nd place in the shot group category. Clan Frazier came in 2nd place in the Accuracy competition, It was one of only two catapults at the competition who was able to hit a target from eighty feet away. Clan Frazier came within 15 feet of placing in the distance competition as well.
Below are pictures from the 2015 event, and preparation for the event:
In addition to learning about simple machines and engineering the team members had to explain their catapult to the whole audience. It was a great learning experience for the students.
*Please contact steve@rubberbandproject if you our your school district are interested in learning more about this unit.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
PS2.A: Forces and Motion
- Pushes and pulls can have different strengths and directions.
- Pushing or pulling on an object can change the speed or direction of its motion and can start or stop it.
- Each force acts on one particular object and has both strength and a direction. An object at rest typically has multiple forces acting on it, but they add to give zero net force on the object. Forces that do not sum to zero can cause changes in the object’s speed or direction of motion. (Boundary: Qualitative and conceptual, but not quantitative addition of forces are used at this level.)
PS2.B: Types of Interactions
- When objects touch or collide, they push on one another and can change motion.
- Objects in contact exert forces on each other.
PS3.C: Relationship Between Energy and Forces
- A bigger push or pull makes things speed up or slow down more quickly.