The Mark One Supersonic Baseball Cannon - Exploring the Speed of Sound

TLDRWitness the creation and testing of the Mark One Supersonic Baseball Cannon, designed to answer the question of what happens when a baseball goes past the speed of sound. Follow along as the team builds and tests the cannon, aiming to achieve supersonic velocities with nitrogen. Learn about the engineering behind the cannon and the challenges they face in controlling and capturing the results.

Key insights

🔫The Mark One Supersonic Baseball Cannon is designed to shoot baseballs past the speed of sound for scientific exploration.

🔬Special devices, like the Schlieren setup, are used to visualize the shockwave and shadow graph of the baseball during testing.

🧪The team uses nitrogen, with its higher speed of sound compared to air, to achieve higher velocities in the cannon.

🚀The goal is to achieve supersonic velocities but capturing the shockwave on camera proves to be a challenge.

🏟️The team plans to continue refining and experimenting with the cannon in order to capture and study the supersonic effects of the baseball.

Q&A

What is the purpose of the Mark One Supersonic Baseball Cannon?

—The cannon is designed to shoot baseballs past the speed of sound for scientific exploration and understanding.

What is the significance of using nitrogen in the cannon?

—Nitrogen, with its higher speed of sound compared to air, allows for higher velocities to be achieved in the cannon.

What challenges do they face in capturing the supersonic effects on camera?

—Capturing the shockwave and visual effects of the supersonic baseball prove to be a challenge due to the speed and precision required.

What are the future plans for the Mark One Supersonic Baseball Cannon?

—The team plans to continue refining and experimenting with the cannon to capture and study the supersonic effects of the baseball.

Are there any safety precautions in place during the testing?

—Safety measures, such as thick shields and controlled environments, are used to ensure the safety of the team during testing.

Timestamped Summary

00:13Introduction to the Mark One Supersonic Baseball Cannon and its purpose of shooting baseballs past the speed of sound.

03:19Explanation of the engineering and design of the cannon, including the use of nitrogen for higher velocities.

08:49Initial testing of the cannon at 300 PSI, showcasing the power and excitement of the first shot.

11:41Discussion of the schlieren setup and the goal of capturing the shockwave and shadow graph of the baseball.

12:33Insight into the challenges of capturing the supersonic effects on camera and the team's plans for future experimentation.

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