Update:

Hi Guys,
Dont forget to COMMENT on my posts! I will comment back on yours!

Also, stay tuned for the spring for the launch of our cannon, The Destroyer! Its sure to be magical!

Our Cannon

Materials:

Our materials were 2 tennis ball cans, scissors, a protractor, and 18 inches of tape.

 This is our design sheet. We ended up choosing a mix of the designs, the one where we made the cylinder smaller, and the stand of the first one.

Step 1. We drew out our designs, and discussed the best angle (we determined 45 degrees), and how we should support the cannon, etc. We decided to use Boyles Law based on pressure being inversely related to volume. We figured that this would be easiest to work with, considering we didnt have as much control over anything besides the volume. In order to raise the pressure, we decreased the volume of the container (in later steps).
To find the best angle I calculated what the distance (R) would be with two different angles as shown:

Step 2. We began to make our cannon in this step. We have to remove the labels off the tennis cans.
Step 3. We cut the bottom off of one of the cannons.

Step 4: We cut a slit down the middle of the cannon, and taped it together to decrease the volume.

Step 5: After we taped that, we made the base of the cannon. To make this, we took the second can, and cut it shorter. Then we taped the cap to the side opposite of the metal circle.
Step 6: When we had made sure that the base was sturdy, we cut a hole in the middle of the base to hold the cannon. We adjusted it so it would be 45 degrees, which after research and calculations we figured was the best angle.

Step 7: We securely taped the cannon to the base. After that we added a hole to put the wood splint through.
Step 8: We are finished! Casey added a few stickers for "luck."

Expected Results:
I think that our cannon will either do good, or implode. Because we decreased the volume, our cannon has the potential to excel over others. At the same time we had not done this before, so our cannon might not be able to shoot the ball, or it may begin to melt.


The Balanced Chemical Equation:
C₂H₅OH + 3O₂ -> 2CO₂ + 3H₂O

A Long Way Gone Connections

In A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, weapons are a major part of the story.

Weapons are used to force the people of Sierra Leone to conform with the RUF. Because of this people all over the country were affected, many died. A boy named Ishmael Beah was forced to run from his family, and prosper on his own because of these weapons. Later he becomes a boy soldier as a last resort, and goes through things many children cant even fathom.
Without weapons, child soldiers wouldn't exist, neither would normal soldiers. Ishmael didnt see or use cannons, but they would have undoubtedly had the same effect on him, if not worse. If simple guns can tear apart families and destroy villages, imagine what cannons could do.  

MATH

-16t^2+vt+h

t=Time in Seconds=x

v= initial velocity: (speed (ft/sec))cos(launch angle)

h=Initial height



An example of the formula being used:

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. Determine the highest the cannonball goes and how long is it in the air? 

With this information our Equation looks like this -16t^2+192t+32

We start off by finding how long the cannon was in the air. This is found in the positive x-intercept. To determine the x-intercept we must use the Quadratic formula:



n.p how to write in quadratic formula. 2010. Web. 29 January 2011.



We plug in the numbers to get the two x intercepts of: -.2 and 12.2. Since it is physically impossible for something to be in the air -.2 seconds our cannon shot was in the air for 12.2 seconds.

Now to determine how high the cannon shot goes. The formula x=-b/2a can be used to determine the axis of symmetry. Once we fill in our information (x=-192/2(-16)) we can solve to get 6=x. However since x=time this is not our answer. To answer our question we must plug 6 into the formula for t. With this our Formula should now look as such 16(6)^2+192(6)+32. Which after solving gives us our answer: The highest point the cannonball reaches is six seconds in adn it reaches about 608 feet off the ground.

Ethics and Morality

 Is it moral for societies to develop weapons of mass destruction for any reason?


 I think that it is very immoral. It is completely against the typical persons morals. Murder is against the law in every state, so why is making weapons of mass destruction legal? 
I think that there is a much better way to work out issues between countries. Making these weapons is almost a childish thing to do of congress. Instead of being able to sit and talk it out with the opponent, governments send out soldiers to kill each other. What does this help? Sure it causes an impact, but not a good one. Wars are probably protested more then anything else. Maybe government should listen to the people, and talk directly to the people they are having the issue with.
Weapons of mass destruction should be banned everywhere. 

Social and Economic Impact

 ECONOMIC IMPACT
Cannons have had a dramatic impact over time. From spending billions on the production of cannons, from researching designs and garnering supplies, cannons are not cheap. (Not that any other weapons of mass destruction are). For example, the M198 howitzer costs $527,337 to produce.
Cannons can supply jobs for many people during the creation of the cannons, helping families around the world. Another way cannons produce a profit- in raids against other places they are more effective, cutting down on the men needed to fight. Not only do you need less men, but they can more quickly demolish the enemy. In that, you gain land more efficiently.

SOCIAL IMPACT

As I said before, cannons have dramatically helped in gaining land, and conquering castles etc. Cannons such as trebuchets helped in taking over rival castles. Like in the Siege of Dover in 1216, where trebuchets were used to take over the Castle of Dover.Although trebuchets became widely popular, and helped in many battles, their use waned as gunpowder emerged.

In the 1800s gunpowder as became more prevalent, and cannons were used more frequently, like in the Civil War.The north used cannons to their advantage, as they produced more of them, which helped with their victory. Cannons also helped make the French's army the finest in the 19th century by putting their cannons in a battery (a term for a group of guns or missles).This method was used at the battle of Friedland, when 66 guns fired 3000 roundshot and 500 grapeshot. This caused severe damage on the Russians, whom had 20,000 of their men killed and wounded (total). And in the Battle of Waterloo, the French army had more artillery then either the Prussians or the British.

In the 1900s weapon sophistication was amped up.Cannons became more of mega guns on various transportation devices. They have evolved greatly from where they were. In World War Two, autocannons were mounted on airfighters, and proved to be affective.

Cannons After 1900

The Mark 42 5"/54 caliber gun began its use in 1953. It is a naval artillery gun, and is used by the US Navy. This gun is a very powerful weapon, with a velocity of 2,650 ft/s. This gun fires a projectile 5 inches in diameter, from a 54 caliber barrel. The gun mount that the gun sits on is self loading, with the maximum rate of fire being 40 rounds/minute.

 

This is a M198 howitzer. It is a towed artillery piece. This can be dropped by a parachute, or be brought in by a CH-53E Super Stallion or CH-47 Chinook. (Both military helicopters, click on links to learn more.) This cannon can take 9 types of artillery including:

1. High Explosive (HE)
2.  Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP)
3.  White Phosphorus (WP)
4.  Illumination
5.  Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM)
6. Area Denial Artillery Munition System (ADAMS)
7.  Remote Anti Armor Mine System (RAAMS)
8.  CopperheadSense
9.  Destroy Armor (SADARM)

The last of these is the most interesting, being an experimental ammunition. SADARM shoots a parachute in the general direction of the oppenent and fires a parachute. The parachute then guides itself to the nearest vehicle and explodes.

This gun uses nine men, and can fire 4 rounds per miniute. It has been used since 1979, and is still used today, although it is no longer produced (which may be due to the hefty price to make one: $527,337). The cannon weighs nearly 16,000 pounds and it can shoot 14 miles. This cannon is certainly a scary one.

1800-1900 Cannons

This is a French Cannon, called the cannon-obusier, which literally means shell cannon. This cannon used shells, balls or canisters, which was a great improvement from the past cannons which shot only metal balls. This cannon was primarily used during the American Civil War. The cannon pictured is the a cannon called the Paixhans gun from 1842. This cannon was designed to shoot explosive shells, the first of its kind. This cannon used a delay mechanism, which allowed the explosives to be shot at such a high velocity. The shells were equipped with a fuse that was ignited upon being shot, and would later explode.

This is a type of canet gun, which were developed by French engineer Gustave Canet. These guns were chosen to equip the Empirial Japanese Navy in 1887. This gun was a 12.6 inch weapon, which was very powerful compared to other weapons of its time. The gun used almost overwhelming firepower, on a small unit.