Ballistics Car with Remote Trigger

Grades 7-12.

Demonstrate the independence of vertical and horizontal motions with this fun apparatus! Car consists of a four-wheeled cart carrying a vertical tube with a spring-loaded piston inside. The tube is loaded with a ball and the car is set in motion. During the motion, the piston is released remotely by a wireless signal, projecting the ball upwards out of the tube. Both the ball and the cart share the same horizontal velocity, which is unaffected by gravity, so that when the ball falls back down, it lands in the tube and does not get left behind by the cart. Cart includes a conical rubber catcher to compensate for slight trajectory variations. Supplied with two 3/4 in. steel balls. Requires one 9V battery (not included). Includes operating instructions.