Basketball Cannon Cart

The ethanol fuel and propane torch create significant fire hazards. Keep the fuel bottle sealed and away from the ignition area. Ensure adequate ventilation as ethanol vapors are flammable. Have a fire extinguisher readily accessible. The cannon produces a loud ignition sound and visible flash—warn the class before demonstration.

The basketball is launched with considerable velocity. Keep spectators at a safe distance from the trajectory path. The operator should wear the bicycle helmet and maintain clear sight lines. Ensure the ceiling is high enough to contain the basketball's vertical flight and that no overhead fixtures are in the path.

Purpose

A basketball fired vertically from a moving cart lands back in the cannon, demonstrating that projectile trajectory depends on the observer's reference frame. From the cart's frame the ball goes straight up and down; from the lab frame it follows a parabolic arc.

Light blue PVC cannon tube with basketball seated in top, mounted on black physicist's skateboard, with green ethanol spray bottle, propane torch, and white Trek bicycle helmet

Figure 1: PVC cannon on the physicist's skateboard with ethanol spray bottle, propane torch, and bicycle helmet.

Propane Torch

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PVC Cannon

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Warning: Combustion and Fire Hazards

Warning: Projectile Hazard

Purpose

Safety Warnings

Warning: Combustion and Fire Hazards

Warning: Projectile Hazard

Purpose