In this popsicle stick catapult activity, students will learn how to design and build a catapult. They will also learn about the engineering process in general.
This stem activity is designed to be used in K-12 classrooms as a way to introduce STEM concepts and problem-solving skills. The activity can be done individually or in groups of 2-3 students.
This activity is a great way to explore engineering and physics concepts. As you dive into it more, you can see about using different objects for this science experiment as well. This is what makes it so much fun.
Check out the Water Pencil in a bag and the Surface Tension Experiment too.
What is a popsicle stick catapult?
A popsicle stick catapult is a toy that you can make out of popsicle sticks and rubber bands. They don’t take long to make and it is a fun introduction to the basics of the design process and mechanical engineering, which makes this an excellent STEM activity for kids.
The engineering process is broken down into five steps: planning, designing, building, testing, and evaluating, which can all be applied when making a catapult popsicle stick.
Mechanical Engineering for Kids
Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the design, construction, and operation of machinery. Mechanical engineers use math, science, and technology to design products that move or power themselves.
They work in a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, biomedical, robotics, and many more.
A mechanical engineer typically takes a project from conception to completion by helping create a blueprint or design for the machine. The engineer will then turn this design into a working machine by making drawings or building models.
Kids can become their own mechanical engineers when they create this simple DIY popsicle stick catapult project. With a popsicle stick and a rubber band, the kids will build a launcher that can shoot small objects several feet across a room.
The more tension in the catapult, the farther the objects will fly.
How to make a catapult with popsicle sticks
A popsicle stick catapult is a type of catapult that can be made out of popsicle sticks, hot glue, bottle caps, and rubber bands.
The catapult is made by gluing three popsicle sticks together and then using rubber bands to connect the popsicle sticks. A bottle cap can be glued to the craft stick catapult to hold small objects in place.
What materials do you need to make a popsicle stick catapult?
You will need the following items to make this catapult design:
- Craft sticks
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- 2 rubber bands
- Plastic bottle caps
- Pom poms, marshmallows, or other small objects to fling
How does the popsicle stick catapult work?
The popsicle stick catapult is a toy that has been around for decades. It was invented by two brothers, Arthur and Charles Paine, in 1920 as a tool for teaching their children about physics.
The popsicle stick catapult works because of the elastic potential energy stored in the bent sticks. When the rubber band is released, it snaps back and pulls the sticks away from each other.
This action causes the catapult to launch its projectile into the air at high velocity!
How far can a popsicle stick catapult shoot a small object?
To launch an object with your catapult, you hold one end of the short piece in your hand and pull down on the long piece with your other hand to bend it slightly.
When you let go, gravity will cause it to snap back into place. Depending on how much tension is between your craft sticks and how light the object is, that will determine how far it flies.
Use these variables to see which catapult design is the best for shooting a small object across a room.
Popsicle Stick Catapult Building Instructions
Here is how to build your very own catapult made with craft sticks.
Glue three popsicle sticks together.
Take two popsicle sticks and wedge them between the stack of three sticks.
Wrap two ends of the popsicle sticks over the popsicle stack together with a rubber band.
Use a second rubber band to secure the center of the open popsicle sticks to the center of the stacked popsicle sticks.
Add glue where necessary to keep things stable.
Glue a bottle cap to the top of one of the open sticks.
When the glue dries, place an object on the bottle cap and pull back on the stick.
Let go, and the catapult will snap back, flinging the object across the room!
But be careful, if you bend the stick too much, it might break!
Once they learn how to make homemade catapults, they’re going to want to do a STEM challenge in a fun way to see who can make something fly the furthest! Who says that science and STEM aren’t full of fun activities?
This is great for kids of all ages, just be sure to have parental supervision for younger kids. Older kids can be a big help with the popsicle stick catapult design as well.
Use your leftover craft sticks to make a rubber band car or explore more Ice Cream Stick Crafts.
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