Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions)

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Priscilla Horn
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1 Project Catapult Trajectory (Quadratic Functions) Project Outline Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions) Project Introduction To go along with other subjects at Mater Academy gearing you towards STEAM, this project will have you construct a catapult. Catapults were vital parts of medieval siege warfare and could be used as a somewhat reliable method to knock down fortifications. In this project, you will construct a catapult with whatever you would like but it has to be able to launch a gumball (vending machine size). Commonly found household items that can be used are pencils, rulers, rubber bands, tape, glue, a plastic spoon, and more. You can also buy supplies such as craft sticks, but please keep the spending to a minimum. Once you have your supplies, you will construct and test your catapult. You will have to find the parabolic arch of your catapult and create a quadratic function and graph to help aid you with certain tasks at the end of the project. This project will be done in groups of 3 (or 4 if there are extra people). Project Supplies Household supplies to create the base of the catapult (recommended) Store bought items to create the base of the catapult (not recommended) Measuring Tape (highly recommended, but I have yard sticks) Project Schedule (4 Days) Day 1 (HOMEWORK: Bring supplies and finish group draft) 1) Brainstorm and Draft Individually, you will consider the supplies needed to make your catapult. Your will then sketch a draft of what your catapult will look like, using sketches of actual items (pencil, rubber band, craft stick, etc). 2) Discuss and Finalize As a group, discuss each other s sketches and agree to a design, whether it be a design from a group member or a newly draft design. 3) List Supplies and Assign As a group, create a list of needed supplies and assign group members to bring them in. Day 2 & 3 (Homework: Reflection Part 1 & 2) 1) Construct With the supplies brought from home, build your catapult. Be sure that your catapult can successfully launch a marshmallow and water balloon. 2) Test and Measure Max Distance With a working catapult, test the distance your catapult will launch the marshmallow. Be sure you test it several times to get a good consistent measure of the max distance. (use inches) 3) Test and Measure Max Height With a good understanding of the max distance, test the maximum height of the flight of the gumball. You can measure the height by launching the gumball against a wall and measuring the wall. Be sure you test it several times to get a good consistent measure of the max height. Once you find the max height, measure the distance away you are from the wall. (use inches) 4) Form the Quadratic Function With the roots (distance at 0 and max distance), and with the vertex (distance away from wall, max height), you will create the quadratic function. Find the amplitude (a) using this formula: y = a(x root)(x root), where the x and y is the coordinates of your vertex. Substitute the amplitude back into the formula to find the quadratic function. Then simplify the function into standard form. 5) Graph the Function With your quadratic function, create a parabola. Day 4 (Homework: Reflection Part 3 & 4) 1) Launch Take the catapult outside and launch water balloons. We will measure the maximum and the distance of the water balloons. Film the launch using slow-mo and time-lapse settings.

2 Project Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions) Project Rubric Project Rubric Category Excellent Good Poor Incomplete Working with Others Construction Reflection Answers Quadratic Function and Graph Target Goal Student was an active group member, listening to suggestions of others and working cooperatively. (60 Catapult has been constructed and all parts are functional at the end of the project. (60 Answers are detailed, written in complete sentences with correct grammar. (60 Quadratic function was created using the roots and vertex. All work is shown. Graph is complete. (60 All target goals met. (60 Student was an active partner but had trouble listening to others and/or working cooperatively. (45 Catapult has been constructed and most parts are functional at the end of the project. (45 Answers are detailed but contain grammatical errors or incomplete sentences. (45 Quadratic function was created using the roots and vertex. Not all work is shown. Graph is complete. (45 Most target goals met. (60 Student cooperated with others, but needed prompting to stay on task. (30 Catapult has been constructed, but parts are loose or falling apart. (30 Answers are written in complete sentences and are grammatically correct, but are not detailed. (30 Quadratic function was created using the roots and vertex. Either work shown is missing key parts or graph is missing key parts. (30 Half of the target goals met. (45 Student did not work effectively with others and/or had issues with cooperation. (0 Catapult was not completed (0 Answers are not written in complete sentences, give little detail, and/or not all questions were answered, (0 Either the quadratic function is not complete or the graph is not complete. (0 Less than half of the target goals met. (30 Your Score Comments: Total: / 300 points

3 Project Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions) Individual Draft Individual Draft Directions: Draw a sketch of the catapult that you would like to build. Label the household items you would, as you make your draft.

4 Project Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions) Group Draft Group Draft Directions: Draw a sketch of what you group had decided to use. If your group decided to use your draft, then just write on this side (USING MY DRAFT). List of Supplies Needed (use another page if you need more space) Item Assigned to Who

5 Project Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions) Reflection Reflection, Part 1 and 2 Part 1 Self Assessment 1) After one day of construction, did your group complete the catapult? yes OR no (choose one) 2) If your group did NOT complete the catapult, what were the reasons why your group couldn t finish? Give examples. 3) If your group did complete the catapult, what active roles or reasons help steer your group to finish? Give examples. Part 2 - Predictions 4) Whether or not your catapult is completed, how far do you think your catapult will launch a marshmallow? What evidence do you think supports your prediction? 5) Whether or not your catapult is completed, how high do you think your catapult will launch a marshmallow? What evidence do you think supports your prediction? 6) Whether or not your catapult is completed, talk about how sturdy you built your catapult? What evidence do you think supports your prediction? 7) Whether or not your catapult is completed, predict if your catapult will consistently maintain the same flight of the marshmallow after being launched? What evidence do you think supports your prediction?

6 Project Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions) Reflection Reflection, Part 3 and 4 Part 3 Wrap Up 8) Was your quadratic function able to help you your targets? yes OR no (choose one) 9) If it wasn t able to help, what factors caused it to be off? Give examples. 10) If it was able to help, what could you have done to improve your catapult s accuracy? 11) Explain what are real world uses of the roots and height of the quadratic function. Part 4 Teamwork 12) Did you and your group work well together? Why or why not? 13) How much effort do you think you put into this project? Explain with examples of what you did or not do? 14) If you had to give YOURSELF a grade on this project, what grade would it be and why? 15) If you had to give YOUR GROUP MEMBERS a grade on this project, what grade would it be and why?

7 Project Catapult Project (Quadratic Functions) Graphing Graphing Worksheet You can do scratch work on the back of this sheet.

Crazy Catapults. Construction paper Popsicle sticks Tape and Scissors. Plastic Cups Pop Cans Straws. Rubber bands Soup cans Plastic Spoons

Crazy Catapults. Construction paper Popsicle sticks Tape and Scissors. Plastic Cups Pop Cans Straws. Rubber bands Soup cans Plastic Spoons _ Crazy Catapults Catapults were used during the Middle Ages to launch objects over high walls of castles and fortified cities. A catapult is a machine, usually on wheels, that had a basket or container