How to Make A Popsicle Stick Catapult
Project Overview: Just imagine one day you want to get this fun and cool toy from the store. But your mom is not willing to spend money on something you will get bored of quickly. So this project will help you make that fun toy with materials you may already have at home.
Materials:
8 popsicle sticks
5-6 rubber bands
1 plastic spoon
Pom poms, Marshmallows, or Cotton balls
Measuring tape
Small cups or bowls (optional targets)
Tape (recommends masking tape)
Instructions:
Stack 6 popsicle sticks together
Take 2 rubber bands and wrap them around each end to hold all the sticks together
Take the remaining 2 popsicles sticks and tie one end together with a rubber band
Then separate the 2 sticks apart with the rubber band still attached into a V shape
Slide the stack of 6 popsicle sticks between the 2 single sticks, it should be close to the rubber-banded end
Adjust the stack so one single stick is on top of the 6 stack and one is on the bottom, still held together (The stack acts as a support that creates tension)
Attach a plastic spoon to the top stick using rubber bands or tape. The bowl part of the spoon should stick out over the end of the stick
Place a Pom pom/Marshmollow/Cotton balls in the spoon
Hold the bottom stick firmly on the table
Press down on the spoon to bend the top stick, then let go to launch the object on the spoon
To experiment with your toy, take it a step further by taking a measuring tape and measuring the distance your object launched
Repeat the test several times and record the distances
Try improving the design of your catapult by changing the number of support sticks, moving the stack closer or farther from the end, or using different-sized projectiles.
Explanation:
The stack of popsicle sticks pushes the top and bottom sticks apart, making the top stick act like a spring. When you press down on the spoon, the top stick bends and stores energy. When you let go, the stick snaps back and releases the stored energy, launching the object forward. When you adjust the design of your catapult, it changes how much energy the stick stores, which affects how far the object travels.
