CO2 Cannon ActivityIncorporates engineering design, chemistry, and physics Goals:

1. Optimize the design to produce the greatesthorizontal distance

2. Minimize the time to launch

Engineers call this a design optimization problemNote: Primary goal is to produce a result not discover why. Increased understanding comes as a side effect.

CO2 Cannon Design Parameters

Amount of water in the cannonTemperature of the water Size of the tablet (whole, half, etc.?)Tablet in one piece or crushedAngle of launchSeal of the cap

Effervescent Chemistry

H3C6H5O7 + NaHCO3 ==> NaC6H5O7 + H2O + CO2 + Heat

Citric Acid + Sodium Bicarbonate ==> Sodium Citrate + Water + Carbon dioxide + Heat

Projectile Physics

Θ

x = v0t cos(Θ)y = v0t sin(Θ) – gt2/2Δr = sqrt(x2 + y2)

CO2 Cannon Group Discussion

1. Characteristics and benefits of Engineering Design?

2. Activities you can modify to use Engineering Design?

3. Problems you anticipate and how to resolve them?

4. Biggest roadblock to using Engineering Design?