mainegunner
New member
Well, my school is holding a science fair, and I wanted to do something with guns. Any suggestions? (I may or may not be playing Devils Advocate with my former 6th grade teacher who hates guns 
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Gun related science fair projects
- Thread starter mainegunner
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mainegunner
New member
I was thinking on maybe seeing how much paper it takes to stop a bullet. Or dirt. Or water even.
Bucksnort1
New member
Whatever you do, be sure to take your gun to school for the project. You'll have plenty of time to work on next year's project, FROM HOME.
Seriously, here is a suggestion. I don't know if you have the resources for this but if you watch the show, "Mythbusters" and find the episode where they did an experiment to show that a bullet fired from a gun and another bullet of the same weight and caliber is dropped from the same height they will hit the ground at the same time. Perhaps you could show this mathematically but don't come to me for help with math; I'm a math phobic and darn proud of it.
You could be like the constipated mathematician and work it out with a pencil. Sometimes, I just kill myself with good humor.
Seriously, here is a suggestion. I don't know if you have the resources for this but if you watch the show, "Mythbusters" and find the episode where they did an experiment to show that a bullet fired from a gun and another bullet of the same weight and caliber is dropped from the same height they will hit the ground at the same time. Perhaps you could show this mathematically but don't come to me for help with math; I'm a math phobic and darn proud of it.
You could be like the constipated mathematician and work it out with a pencil. Sometimes, I just kill myself with good humor.
Bucksnort1
New member
MooMoo, you are right. I just didn't want to add too many details. You know, rocket surgery is tough for some.
QUANDO OMNI FLUNKUS MORITATI
QUANDO OMNI FLUNKUS MORITATI
You just threw me for a loop is all. Racking my brain wondering how shooting a gun down lands the same as dropping. Questioned my sanity for a bit.
And uhhh rocket surgery isnt a thing..
.[emoji2]
mainegunner
New member
Are you implying I don't have a gun moomooboo?
Here is the list:
Some .22 Marlin semi auto
A Remington 700 .30-06
A Really really old H and R SxS .410
An H and R Pardner Pump 20 gauge
A J. Stevens break open single barrel .410
A bolt action .410 marked Ranger 101 12
A Ruger Mini 14
Here is the list:
Some .22 Marlin semi auto
A Remington 700 .30-06
A Really really old H and R SxS .410
An H and R Pardner Pump 20 gauge
A J. Stevens break open single barrel .410
A bolt action .410 marked Ranger 101 12
A Ruger Mini 14
Not at all just that you dont really have the tools to measure the bullets.
mainegunner
New member
Oh. I see. You are right, actually.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Yeah, the bullet drop will be pretty difficult.
A few years ago I spoke to a student who had written a paper on snipers and was suspended from school. I highly recommend you consider the possible repercussions and are comfortable with the consequences of your actions. Whether those are fair or not is irrelevant.
I don't have any good ideas off of the top of my head.
Some areas that might have an experiment that is feasible:
Dominant eye and hand
oxidation of different materials(effects of different products)
More will come later.
I have participated in science fairs as both a participant and a judge. The project isn't all that important. Following the scientific method is important. Making a mistake and then going back and fixing it is about the best thing you can do. If you can get anyone to help you with some basic statistics it look really good. There is a surprising amount of money at the higher levels(County, Regional, State). The same groups give out the same awards every year. you can look up what they are and try to make your project fit a few. Last week I ran across some of the EE bonds I received as awards when I was in HS. Cashed them out and searching gunbroker for a used browning 1911-22 to buy with the funds. Wish I had spent the cash and checks on something that would have lasted. If I remember correctly, I ended up making over $20 an hour in award money the two years I did science fair in high school. The same people give out the same awards every year.
A few years ago I spoke to a student who had written a paper on snipers and was suspended from school. I highly recommend you consider the possible repercussions and are comfortable with the consequences of your actions. Whether those are fair or not is irrelevant.
I don't have any good ideas off of the top of my head.
Some areas that might have an experiment that is feasible:
Dominant eye and hand
oxidation of different materials(effects of different products)
More will come later.
I have participated in science fairs as both a participant and a judge. The project isn't all that important. Following the scientific method is important. Making a mistake and then going back and fixing it is about the best thing you can do. If you can get anyone to help you with some basic statistics it look really good. There is a surprising amount of money at the higher levels(County, Regional, State). The same groups give out the same awards every year. you can look up what they are and try to make your project fit a few. Last week I ran across some of the EE bonds I received as awards when I was in HS. Cashed them out and searching gunbroker for a used browning 1911-22 to buy with the funds. Wish I had spent the cash and checks on something that would have lasted. If I remember correctly, I ended up making over $20 an hour in award money the two years I did science fair in high school. The same people give out the same awards every year.
Theohazard
New member
The term "devil's advocate" typically means that someone is taking up the opposing argument even if they don't believe in it; they're simply arguing the opposite side for the purpose of testing their original position.mainegunner said:I may or may not be playing Devils Advocate with my former 6th grade teacher who hates guns
So what you seem to be saying here is that you're anti-gun just like your 6th grade teacher was, but you're taking up the pro-gun side just to further test your anti-gun stance.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Yes, it is. It's a figure of speech, a deliberate conflation of two other figures of speech:Moomooboo said:
- It isn't rocket science; and
- It isn't brain surgery
Aguila Blanca
Staff
You need more than a gun to perform that experiment.mainegunner said:
You're measuring the time it takes for a bullet to drop from whatever height the barrel is to whatever height the ground is. Let's assume that the experimental constant is the ground elevation directly at the point of firing the gun -- the muzzle. You can measure that with ordinary measuring tools (although for scientific accuracy and precision you should ideally be using something more finely calibrated than a Stanley carpenter's tape measure).
If the experiment is to show that the fired bullet will strike the ground at the same time as the dropped bullet, the elevation of the ground where the bullet will strike must be at exactly the same height (elevation) as it is where the dropped bullet will land. Having spent a fair amount of time in Maine, I don't think you're likely to find anywhere to shoot that's so flat you can find an impact location that's exactly the same elevation as the ground at the firing location. If the ground elevation at both points is not the same -- the time airborne cannot be the same (unless the hypothesis is incorrect).
Even if there is a remote point that's the exact same elevation -- how do you demonstrate that it is? That requires sophisticated surveying techniques and expensive surveying equipment. I don't see "theodolite" in your list of available resources.
And then there's measuring. You can measure the drop time at the firing line with a stop watch, but you won't be very accurate. The watch may time to 1/100 of a second, but without an automatic (and consistent) actuator, you won't get valid readings. A scientific experiment has to be repeatable; you won't get repeatable results clicking the timer by hand.
For the fired projectile, the barrel has to be perfectly horizontal. If not, then the firing velocity will be adding or subtracting a small vertical vector to/from the gravity drop velocity (acceleration).
And how are you going to know exactly when to click the timer at the point of remote impact?
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There is this easy setup we did during middle school years to demonstrate the gravity drop being independent of horizontal velocity. I would be happy to show you the details if you promise not to assume belligerent attitude towards anyone, your teacher included. It does not further our cause, but to create distractions. Distraction from learning at school. There is time for everything.
-TL
-TL
One of my sons did an awesome science fair project titled, "Does gun powder burn ... or explode?"
We had to work pretty hard to get the teacher to approve his plan.
He recorded his experiment on dvd since performing it at school was out of the question.
First, he researched some terms that included explosion, propellant, conflagrant. He learned that the speed of the reaction is what distinguishes an explosive reaction from an ordinary combustion reaction.
Then he timed how long it would take to fully burn various types of modern smokeless powders.
We used a length of metal gutter, six feet long. He laid a thin line of powder from one end of the pipe to the other.
He wore full PPE borrowed from one of our volunteer firefighter friends, including flame retardant jacket, gloves, and full face shield. (This wasn't because we believed it would be necessary, but was an agreed-upon sop to his teacher who was sure we were going to blast a hole in our front yard.)
He also got behind an improvised barrier before he ignited the powder.
He used a remote detonator from a model rocket kit to set off the powder.
And then he timed how long it took for six feet of powder to burn. In most cases, it was a nice little candle effect that took over 30 seconds.
If it were an explosive, it would have simply flashed (in considerably less than a split second).
The paper he wrote to go with it talked about all that.
pax
We had to work pretty hard to get the teacher to approve his plan.
He recorded his experiment on dvd since performing it at school was out of the question.
First, he researched some terms that included explosion, propellant, conflagrant. He learned that the speed of the reaction is what distinguishes an explosive reaction from an ordinary combustion reaction.
Then he timed how long it would take to fully burn various types of modern smokeless powders.
We used a length of metal gutter, six feet long. He laid a thin line of powder from one end of the pipe to the other.
He wore full PPE borrowed from one of our volunteer firefighter friends, including flame retardant jacket, gloves, and full face shield. (This wasn't because we believed it would be necessary, but was an agreed-upon sop to his teacher who was sure we were going to blast a hole in our front yard.)
He also got behind an improvised barrier before he ignited the powder.
He used a remote detonator from a model rocket kit to set off the powder.
And then he timed how long it took for six feet of powder to burn. In most cases, it was a nice little candle effect that took over 30 seconds.
If it were an explosive, it would have simply flashed (in considerably less than a split second).
The paper he wrote to go with it talked about all that.
pax
mainegunner
New member
Theohazard, sorry if I used devils advocate wrong.
Tangolima, I wont be belligerent towards anybody, but there is no way on earth that absolutely nobody on this forum likes seeing anti gunners get all up in a bunch because a gun is involved in something.
That school is lucky to have me there. Not being stuck up here, but come on guys. The IQ of at least 80% of the kids there is less than or equal to room temperature. The school has no policies against guns, just that my former teacher hates them and me (The feeling is mutual). I know the repercussions and I'm fine with it. I'm just that way.
Tangolima, I wont be belligerent towards anybody, but there is no way on earth that absolutely nobody on this forum likes seeing anti gunners get all up in a bunch because a gun is involved in something.
That school is lucky to have me there. Not being stuck up here, but come on guys. The IQ of at least 80% of the kids there is less than or equal to room temperature. The school has no policies against guns, just that my former teacher hates them and me (The feeling is mutual). I know the repercussions and I'm fine with it. I'm just that way.
You surely are more intelligent than when I was at middle school. Most kids were smarter than me, and I felt lucky to have my education. In retrospect I don't really agree with everything the teachers told me, but they surely helped mold me into who I am today.
Good luck for your endeavors.
-TL
Good luck for your endeavors.
-TL
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