Jayla Gray-Thomas' Online Portfolio

4. Specify Constraints and Criteria

Specifications

• The Court is marked with a line 24” from the basket (1 point), a line 42” from the basket (2 points), and a line 60” from the basket (3 points).

• The backboard is 12” wide and 7” high. The rim is 14” high and has a diameter of about 4”.

• The marshmallow launcher must fit within a 1’x1’ footprint.

• The energy source (rubber band) must be attached to the device.

• The design must be accessible by all persons, easy to use, flexible in use.

 

Materials

• 15 craft sticks

• 5 rubber bands

• One (1) cardboard tube (1.7” diameter and 11” length or a standard paper towel tube) - HOMEWORK

• Glue

 

5. Consider Alternative Solutions

I found multiple designs that all had basically the same concept. My first design idea was not my final choice because it didn't fit the criteria. Because of this I came up with other design ideas and used google to see what other people have done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Select an approach

My final design is design number five. While it may take a little extra effort, it will probably be the most effective design that follows all the constraints and criteria. If I can get the extra materials, I may attempt a Da Vinci catapult.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Develop a proposal

 

For my chosen design I will need :

7+ Craft Sticks

2 Clothes pins

1 Water bottle cap

1 Wood/Styrofoam base for everything

Glue..Ruler..

 

8. Make a model/prototype

Full scale drawing in notebook

 

9. Test/Evaluate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Refine/Improve   

Before I built 3 catapults in order to have different angles when testing. I tested all three once and then tested the most successful and least successful catapults again. In order to find the best I just added up all the # of baskets out of 30 shots. My first and second catapults both ended up being 7/30 so I looked at which one made the most 3 point shots because they were the most difficult. The worst was my third catapult because it only made 6 out of 30. I ended up testing my first and third again. I found that by not pushing down all the way on the end of my catapult, the ball wouldn’t shoot as far, thus making the one point shot easier. I had a clothespin on the end of all of my catapults before so that when I opened it, they would shoot with the same amount of force and the same distance before. I took those off, and by doing that I had more control over the way the catapult shot and how high/far the ball went. In the end, my catapult works best without the extra clothespin because after taking that away my best and worst catapults had the same percentage of success. (I also added two more pieces of wood for holding the ball, but it wasn’t completely necessary

 

 

11. Create/Make Product

I used my full scale drawing and my refinements in order to make the completed product. I took away the extra clothespins first. I also removed the base I had my catapults on at first an hot glued them onto another that was a little less "used". I added two pieces of wood in order to hold the ball onto each of my catapults and then let everything dry. I tested it a few more times without the ball jsut making sure it was stable and wouldnt break and then waited for the competiton.

 

 

12. Communicate Results