Right on Target: Catapult Game
Students experience the engineering design process as they design and build accurate and precise catapults using common materials. They use their catapults to participate in a game in which they launch Ping-Pong balls to attempt to hit various targets.
An example student-designed and built catapult.
The engineering design process is an important aspect of solving engineering challenges, regardless of their nature. This process refers to the steps of designing, building, testing and redesigning a product or system through many iterations in order to achieve solutions that adequately meet the objectives. Whether designing a rocket to take us to the moon, an artificial leg for a runner, or the coolest new toy for kids, engineers follow the steps of the engineering design process.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Employ the engineering design process to create a solution to a given problem.
- Design and build catapults using materials found at home.
- Explain the meaning of projectile motion, accuracy and precision.