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In this physics crime lab or demonstration, learners pretend they are criminologists and must find the "muzzle velocity" (speed of the bullet as it leaves the gun) of a gun used to commit a crime. Learners build an apparatus to fire a dart from a plastic toy gun into the open end of a cut-off plastic water bottle which has been stuffed with a plastic bag and suspended as a pendulum. Knowing the mass of the dart, the mass of the water bottle-bag combination, and the vertical rise of the water-bottle bag combination with the dart in it, simple energy and momentum considerations are used to find the muzzle velocity of the dart.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- Over $20 per group of students
- Ages 14 - 18
- Activity, Demonstration, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- toy dart gun with suction cup darts
- balane
- 1 PVC 1/2 in. pipe, 12 in. long
- 5 PVC 1/2 in. pipe, 4 in. long
- 2 PVC 1/2 in. pipe, 2 in. long
- 3 PVC 1/2 in. 90 degree elbows
- 2 PVC 1/2 in. T's
- plastic water bottle, 500 mL, with top
- plastic grocery bag
- string
- tape, translucent and/or masking
- jumbo paper clip
- 5x8 index card
- washer, steel, 3/4 in (approximate mass 50 g)
- marker pen
- ruler
- scissors and/or utility knife
- calculator
Subjects
-
Mathematics
-
Algebra
- Equations and Inequalities
- Variables and Expressions
-
Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Measurement
- Number and Operations
-
Algebra
-
Physical Sciences
-
Energy
- Potential and Kinetic Energy
-
Motion and Forces
- Momentum and Velocity
- Projectile Motion
-
Structure and Properties of Matter
- Mass and Weight
-
Energy
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
- Science as a Career
-
The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Crime Science
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Rathjen, Don
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Exploratorium, 2008