Journal Entry

Our design was built to optimally maximize pressure using a double-barrel model. This built up more pressure in the smaller chamber as to launch the Nerf ball further, using more kinetic energy. This dealt with Boyle's law, regarding volume and pressure. We didn't take into account Gay-Lusaac's law, dealing with temperature as well, which is most likely why our cannons didn't fire. To create a better environment where the cannons would have a better chance of firing, we should have chosen a warmer day. The cold air decreased the pressure within our cannons, making it impossible for them to build up the energy to propel the Nerf ball forward.

Construction of the "Mini Cannon"

1. We designed the cannon on a piece of paper, deciding what the best design could be to maximize pressure and launch the Nerf ball further.

2. We chose a double-barrel design and researched the best ratio (1:1.5) to use when building it.

3. We cut the plastic accordingly, and used the caps of both tennis ball cans as the middle barrier between the two chambers to build the pressure in the lower one when the reaction took place.

4. We used the remaining plastic to create the angle that it needed to be. We used a protractor to find exactly 38º and cut to create a ramp-like bottom.

5. We finalized the design using our remaining tape and name it the "Mini Cannon."

"Overture of 1812" Reflection

The piece starts out slowly and calmly, largely focusing on light string music. Then, suddenly, it begins with more intense and loud music. This is when the cannon shots can be heard. It shows the jarring effect that war has on even the most peaceful situations. Towards the middle of the composition, it doesn't exactly slow down, however it does significantly soften. This middle begins to speed up and show a feeling of urgency, constantly having a fast-paced bass-line in the background.

"The Charge of the Light Brigade" Reflection

Writing before reading:

1. What are some examples of times when people must obey an authority figure, even though they may not want to?

In the army, navy, marine corps., etc. you must answer to your superior officer. Another example is in school, although it is not as extreme, you have to do what your teacher tells you, even though you may not want to.

2. Must military commanders enforce harsh discipline on their soldiers?

Yes, for if they don't, their soldiers will not have the sense of control and organization needed to function as a team.

3. Is it important for a military outfit to work as a team?

Yes, because they are stronger as a whole and disbanded they are weaker and more vulnerable.

4. What are the consequences if a commander is unable to keep his or her troops under control during wartime?

The soldiers will be unable to perform as a team, leading to potential loss. A major factor of the military is team work and strategizing plans to succeed. A lack of this will end in the

group's downfall.

Analysis after reading:

1. Read and discuss the poem.

The poem is describing a group of 600 soldiers marching into battle. Slowly, throughout the poem, the Light Brigade's numbers are slowly lessened.

2. Recall and interpret facts and extend meanings.

The term "Light Brigade" seems to glorify going into war, because light can be interpreted as a symbol of purity and honor. Although, towards the end of the poem, it slowly started to show a lessening of the soldiers of the Light Brigade. They kept marching forward, fighting for what they believed, even though they were slowly decreasing in numbers and strength. There is a strong use of imagery used in this poem. It uses almost all of the five senses: sight, smell, auditory, and feeling.

Visual: "Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, Sabring the gunners

there," "White horse and hero fell,"

Smell: "Plunged into the battery-smoke,"

Auditory: "Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them,"

Tactile: "Right thro' the line they broke,"

The use of figurative language is also evident through metaphors such as: "the jaws of Death," or "the mouth of Hell."

3. Analyze narrative poetry and the use of repetition and metaphor in a poem.

Narrative poetry is meant to tell a story, as opposed to show an author's feelings or

emotions on a subject. Repetition and metaphors are strong uses of sound and figurative

language. Repetition shows a comparison between either two things or two different

situations in the poem. Metaphor is a comparison to things through figurative situations.

Both types of diction show comparison.

4. Discuss the following themes: courage and honor; leaders and followers; justice and vengeance.

Courage is the determination and the vigor to complete a task that may have intimidated

you beforehand. Honor is the thing you receive in return, respect for your deed. Leaders

have the strength to take responsibility for a group of people and lead them to a common

goal. Followers may not seem to be as important, but a leader without followers to help

accomplish something is just an individual. Justice is fair and reasonable treatment for

one's actions. Vengeance is revenge, where one's punishment may be harsh or overdone.

Optimal Launch Angle

When doing research, I found that an optimal angle for launching with disregard to natural factors (temperature, wind) is about 40º. Since we were going to have to consider wind as an altering variable, my group decided to use an angle of about 38º.

Hypothesis

I think that our cannon will be especially successful in launching. We used a double-chamber design to maximize pressure and propel the Nerf ball further. We used a 1:1.5 ratio for the two chambers. The smaller chamber was the one in which the reaction took place, and the longer one was where the Nerf ball was held.

After-firing reflection: We weren't able to tell if our cannon would have shot the farthest, because none of our cannons shot. We determined that the low temperature was an independent variable and that decreased the pressure in each of our cannons, not providing enough energy to launch the Nerf ball.

Range Equation

This is the range equation that we used for our cannons. V = initial velocity, θ = launch angle in degrees, R = distance of the launch, and G is about 32.2 feet/second.

Since our cannon had no range, our initial velocity is 0.

However, θ is equal to 38º.

1912: "Vickers Machine Gun"

The Vickers machine gun was created in Kent and introduced in Britain in 1912. It was essentially an improved version of a Maxim machine gun. It was, mainly in World War II, until 1968. It uses a 250 round fabric-belt magazine and used water as a self-cooling mechanism, weighing about 50 pounds.

Before 1700: "The Stirling Warwolf"

The "Stirling Warwolf" was invented in 1304 by Edward Longshanks. It was made for the English army and it was extremely effective. With one shot, it could destroy a section of a castle wall. It successfully ended the siege of Stirling Castle.

1863: "The Swamp Angel"

"The Swamp Angel" was an 8-inch, 200-pound Parrott siege fun, created by Major General Quincy Gillmore in 1863. It was used in Charleston, South Carolina, as a threat to General Beauregard to evacuate Morris ISland and Fort Sumpter. If he failed to comply, they would begin firing at the city. General Beauregard did not believe that the threat was valid and refused to leave. General Gillmore unleashed fire, causing mayhem and chaos throughout the city.