Slightly OT: Re: science teacher needs help

What amazes me sometimes is the way teachers ignore the opportunity to
'teach' kids to think, and to solve problems.

This project seems to be an ideal one for the kids to derive a solution,
help with the design, and then test the gear and the theory it
demonstrates.

I would be most surprised if the kids weren't able to rig a simple circuit
for such a device,

David - who shakes his head in wonder at opportunities lost

semidemiurge wrote:

> I need a simple solution for a classroom science project. I am a
> science teacher and I am constructing apparatus to demonstrate that a
> projectile drops at the same rate as an object falling in the vertical
> axis alone.
> I have the target released by energizing a solenoid, this is suppose to
> happen when the projectile exits the muzzle of a blowgun. My problem
> is how to energize the solenoid by the passage of the dart out the
> muzzle. One thought was using a NO microswitch but it causes a
> deflection in the path of the dart no mater what I do. I was thinking
> about using a small piece of alluminum foil that would be severed
> (breaking contact) but I would need some technique/circuit that would
> start the current flow to the solenoid when the foil circuit was
> openned. I don't have a suffecient background in electronics to solve
> this on my own, any suggestions? thanks rick

.

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