Acoustic Measurement of Potato Cannon Velocity
Abstract
Potato cannon velocity can be measured with a digitized microphone signal. A microphone is attached to the potato cannon muzzle, and a potato is fired at an aluminum target about 10 m away. Flight time can be determined from the acoustic waveform by subtracting the time in the barrel and time for sound to return from the target. The potato velocity is simply flight distance divided by flight time.
- Publication:
-
The Physics Teacher
- Pub Date:
- November 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1119/1.2798362
- arXiv:
- arXiv:physics/0612118
- Bibcode:
- 2007PhTea..45..496C
- Keywords:
-
- 01.50.My;
- 45.00.00;
- Demonstration experiments and apparatus;
- Classical mechanics of discrete systems;
- Physics - Physics Education;
- Physics - Popular Physics
- E-Print:
- 3 pages