Popsicle Catapult
Stored tension in a lever flings a projectile across the room — simple machines meet projectile motion.
Start building ↓The build
Stack the base
Bind several sticks into a stiff bundle for the fulcrum.
Add the arm
Attach a launch arm with a cup on the end via a pivot.
Tension it
Use rubber bands to load the arm against a stop.
Fire
Pull back, load the cup, and release.
The lever stores elastic energy in the bands; releasing it converts that to kinetic energy, launching the projectile on a parabolic arc.
A closer look
Launch angle and band tension set range; 45° gives maximum distance on level ground when air drag is small.
Variables to test
- 1 Test launch angles and measure distance — is 45° best?
- 2 Add bands for more tension; chart range vs tension.
More Physics
Homopolar Motor
A single AA battery, a magnet and a copper-wire loop spin into the simplest electric motor that actually works.
Switchable Electromagnet
Coil insulated wire around an iron bolt and a battery turns it into a magnet you can switch on, off, and strengthen at will.
Pendulum Timer
A swinging mass keeps remarkably steady time — build one and discover what really sets its rhythm.