Physics: Ping Pong Ball Launcher

I'd probably set up a test rig at home with the same dimensions, cause aerodynamics on the pingpong ball will definitely affect how it flies.

As for actually triggering it, you could take design cues from a mousetrap - spring is attached to a bar, which another bar latches across to lock it in place.


So when you lift the bar (due to removing the cheese) the spring is free to snap shut.

If you attach the ends of the elastic to eyehooks and stick each into pegboards, you can adjust the trajectory so the pingpong ball goes where you want it.

Ack, I see what you're going for but I just don't see me having the time to build that... Even though it might be easy. I might consider something like this.

Projectile?

Given either an angle or initial velocity at the moment of shooting, you can easily set the height of the projectile at any moment in time to be a function of other variables, then adjust it so that it matches the height of the cup.

Paperwork aside, I'm thinking of one of those Y-shaped thingies used for shooting birds whose name escapes me at the moment (slingshot), and by "trigger", can't you at least use a scissor to cut a string that's holding the rubber band in place? Or maybe you can do one of those car-bumps-bookshelf-book-falls-off-onto-seesaw-launching-the-cat-into-the-backyard chain reaction kind of thing.

Yes, I can cut the rubber band while it's in place. That can account for something of a 'trigger'. The only act of force that can launch the ping pong ball has to be the rubber band though.

I've been considering a catapult really... The more simpler it is, the easier it'll be to test run it and perfect a specified angle to match the velocity at which the catapult will launch it at. My first prototype of the device was a pvc pipe with two incisions on each side so the rubber band can stretch back and I can put the ball inside from the top end. Kind of like a cannon, really. But by making the incisions in the pipe it contracted and wouldn't fit the ball anymore so I think I might take my chances with a catapult.