Math

A cannonball is shot upward from the upper deck of a fort with an initial velocity of 192 feet per second.  The deck is 32 feet above the ground. 

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This problem can be solved with the equation: h = -16t²+v₀t+h_0, where h is initial height and v is initial velocity.

So, h = -16t²+192t+32

To solve this equation, I put it in a graphing calculator. The highest point the parabloa reaches on the y-axis is 608, meaning that 608 feet is the highest point the cannonball reached.


To find how long the cannon ball was in the air, you use the quadratic formula, or:
x=(-b±√(b^2-4ac))/2a

a = -16 b = 192 and c = 32

When you plug in these numbers, you get 12.164414, or just over 12 seconds long.

Preliminary Ideas and Construction

For our cannon, we originally planned to cut one of the tennis ball cans in half, then cut a hole in one of the halves, and fitting the other tennis ball can through the hole and using the half that we cut as a 'support platform'. This idea did not work, as the tennis ball can half was too flimsy and could not support the longer can. We fixed this problem by turning the half can sideways, and then using the bottom of on of the cans for support, as pictured below:



So far, our design and construction has been running pretty smooth! I hope our cannon works.

Research

Pre-1800s Cannons

Falconet

The falconet was a small cannon used mainly during the American Revolution. It became widely used for the defense of small ships during the 17^TH century, despite the fact that they were created to be used on land. The falconet uses a half pound of black powder to launch a 1 pound round shot around 5,000 feet. It could also use grapeshot as a source of ammunition, which is a various number of small projectiles that would be

shot from the cannon.  It weighs 500 pounds and is about 4 feet long.

 

1800-1900s Cannons

The Napoleon

The Napoleon was used during the Civil War. It has the capacity to fire a twelve pound cannon ball 1,000 feet, and could even reach maximum ranges of one mile. The Napoleon was used extensively by both the Confederacy and the Union’s ground forces. The Napoleon weighs 2,353 pounds and is five and a half feet long.

1900 - Present Cannons

Howitzer

A howitzer is a type of artillery, or a large transportable weapon. Howitzers differ from other cannons in that they are under 30 calibers, which means that the length of the barrel is less than 30 times the length of the bore. The howitzer fires at very steep angles so that the ammunition falls almost straight down. This is different from other cannons because the average cannon is over 30 calibers and does not fire at such a steep angle. Different variations of the howitzer were used during World War II.



The falconet was widely used for the defense of small ships. It gave these small vessels the ability to defend themselves at sea which led to them gaining power at sea. The napoleon was used during the Civil War. At the battle of Gettysburg, it was used by both the Union and Confederacy, but overall it led to the victory of the Union. They used the napoleon to defend their land against the opposing Confederate forces. Howitzers were used by the British in WWII. They used howitzers in aerial attacks to bomb certain areas of land. This destroyed their enemies land and helped them to gain power.

Cannons used during the American Revolution, like the falconet, contributed to the liberation of America from the British. It also contributed to the creation of The United States of America. Cannons that were used during the Civil War, like the napoleon, contributed to the destruction of the Confederacy making itself an independent republic. Modern day cannons, like howitzers, were used during World War II and led to the destruction of Nazi Germany. The use of cannons in war has had a huge impact in history and has led to the destruction, liberation, and creation of many societies.

It isn’t exactly ‘moral’ to develop weapons of mass destruction, but I do think it is necessary. This is because no matter what, weapons of mass destruction will be developed by someone. It is necessary for us to develop weapons of mass destruction in order to defend ourselves in case weapons of mass destruction are used against us. Some may argue that developing weapons of mass destruction costs a lot or costs a lot to maintain, but it would cost way more to restore our country if we were hit by one because we are defenseless.  It is, in a way, ethical to develop weapons of mass destruction for defense, but not necessarily to develop them for the sole purpose of using them against someone. The weapons used in A Long Way Gone were, more likely than not, develpoed for the purpose of defense, though they were used for senseless violence. Since they were used to kill people senselessly, they had a huge negative impact on the people affected by them. The weapons tore apart families, killed men, children and women alike, and destroyed villages. This, obviously, is very unethical, but if the people who created these weapons did not have this in mind when making them, then the production of these weapons was not unethical, though what they were used for was.

Works Cited

Hickman, Kennedy. "The 12-pounder Napoleon." About.com. About, n.d. Thu. 20 Jan. 2011.

"Falconet (cannon)." WordLingo.com. WordLingo, 2011. Thu. 20 Jan. 2011.

 Wolfe, Scott H. "Grant Park Revisited: The Napoleon." galenahistorymuseum.org. 1999. Thu. 20 Jan 2011.

"Howitzer." spiritus-temporis.com. 2005. Thu. 20 Jan 2011.

"Battles of the Civil War." library.thinkquest.org. n.d. Thu. 20 Jan. 2011.

The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008. Thu. 20 Jan. 2011.