Projectile Motion Using Arduino – Launcher Competition
Arduino and ramp setupCopyright Alexander Lutheran
Students use an Arduino kit and infrared (IR) sensors to calculate the speed of a moving object. Using kinematic equations, they determine the distance the object travels before hitting the ground. Building on this knowledge, students compete to design and build the most effective projectile launcher. As they refine their launcher designs through the engineering design process, they connect its performance to the principles of projectile motion, incorporating the varying speeds measured by the Arduino.
Infrared sensors play a critical role in various engineering applications, including security cameras, remote control devices, night vision equipment, chemical analysis tools, and technologies used for gathering data about the universe. Speed sensors, on the other hand, are widely utilized to monitor motion in robotics and industrial systems. The principles of projectile motion are fundamental for testing structural designs, ensuring safety, and optimizing performance. Designing and building the launcher will engage students in the full engineering design process—identifying constraints, creating a design, constructing and testing the launcher, and iterating to make improvements.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Set up an Arduino speed sensor using IR proximity sensors.
- Determine the distance of a horizontally launched projectile given initial velocity and height.
- Use the engineering design process to create a working projectile launcher.