Cannon

Tomorrow, we're building cannons in physics class. In order to have our cannon result in the farthest distance horizontally, we must first acquire some knowledge about it first.

How does the cannon work?

To begin with, we have the breech located at the end of the cannon (as shown above). It's basically the rear end of the main body of the cannon, and it serves as a location for the fuel to deposit in. There is an air vent located in the breech of the cannon, and it serves as an escape for the excess combustible gases. There may be a barrier inside of the breech of the cannon to stop the ignition of any left over ashes.

Then, we have the central Tube of the cannon which holds the cannonball.The tube is a part of the cannon that can be mounted. This part is usually fixed to the base of wheels of the cannon to give support.

In the front of the cannon, there is the muzzle The muzzle is very unique in its shape, allowing for a safe release of the gases as well as the cannonball. Its curved shape is to fit the cannonball.


To determine what angle the cannon should be placed at, it's best to treat it as a projectile.
In projectiles, both horizontal and vertical components are taken into consideration. When the cannonball is fired from the cannon, its path can be divided into an x component and y component. Using these components, we  can determine the distance horizontally. After much research, the most suitable angle for the cannon was supposedly 45 degrees because if we plug it into our big five equations, we will end up with the largest number in the distance of Dx.

However, there was one factor we ignored, and crucial to the angle of the cannon. Even though 45 degrees IS an optimal angle, it's the optimal angle on ground level. For a cannon that has a height, the optimal angle changes. It will decrease and the cannon will angle closer and closer to the surface it's on to achieve the maximum distance horizontally. How much of a decrease in its angle though, is something we have yet to determine.

References:

(1999 -2012) The Parts of a Cannon. (n.d) Retrieved May 17, 2012 from  http://www.ehow.com
       /info_8048012_parts-cannon.html

Parts of a Cannon. Taylor's Battery. Retrieved May 18, 2012 from http://www.taylorsbattery.com
      /battery_then.htm

Kinematics Quiz: Golf Range.

History of Flying Machines Continued.

Wright Brothers and the Flyer.

References

Gray, Caroll (1998-2006) Flying Machines. Retrieved March 25, 2012 from


The First Flight (n.d) Retrieved March 25, 2012 from

Inventing a Flying Machine. Smithonian: National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved March
25, 2012 from