How to Build a Potato Cannon
A Potato cannon is also known as spudzooka and spud gun. If you’re looking for a cool science project, making a potato cannon is a good idea as it demonstrates the principles of physics very well. Here are some tips you can follow to build a potato cannon.
Things You’ll Need:
4 inch PVC plug
4 inch PVC coupling
4 inch PVC fitting adapter
4 x 24 PVC pipe
2 x 4 PVC increaser reducer
2 x 48 PVC pipe
PVC cleaner, primer and cement
lantern lighter
Hair spray
loads of potatoes
File
Drill
Hand saw
Steps:
Measure and cut the PVC pipes to your desired size.
potato cannon
Connect the PVC adapter, coupling, reducer and pipes using a PVC cement.
Make a hole in the middle of the 4 x 24 PVC pipe.
Place the lighter with all its components in the hole.
Sharpen the end of the 2 x 48 PVC pipe using a file. It’s important to keep this area sharp so it could cut off the excess parts of your potatoes when you start loading your cannon.
Firing Your Spudgun
Test your cannon in an open space. Be very careful when firing your spudzooka to prevent accidents.
Put potatoes inside your cannon. You may use a stick to send the potatoes at the very bottom of the pipe.
Spray a flammable substance, like a hairspray into the big end of your gun. Use just enough amount to launch your potato. (If you want to know other uses of hair spray, read 18 hair-raising uses for hairspray)
Screw the PVC plug
Position your cannon at a safe area and hold it on your side.
Light the lighter.
See your potato fly.
Tips:
If you want your potatoes to fly out faster, lengthen the size of your barrel.
Put some oil in the barrel to increase velocity. Take note that when you do this, you’ll be lowering the pressure in the barrel and decreasing the force needed for a good projectile.
It’s important to have the right amount of propellant. Putting too little won’t make the potato fly far while too much of it won’t launch the potato at all.
A spudgun is a good physics project. Don’t make one if you plan to use it for pranks or other devious things. A spudzooka may not look as dangerous as other cannons but when used irresponsibly, it can cause great harm on other people and even on you. If you enjoy reading this article, you’ll surely enjoy learning how to make a potato gun.