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RAMConsult
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Engineering Fields - Power Engineering - New Member

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Supersonic Ping Pong Ball

03/05/2013 1:15 PM

Some professors have too much time on their hands!

http://www.tested.com/science/physics/453458-ping-pong-ball-launcher-blows-past-sound-barrier-through-paddle/?ncid=webmail20

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user-deleted-1105
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Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

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#1

Re: Supersonic Ping Pong Ball

03/05/2013 1:19 PM

...coolDel

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tcmtech
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: South of Minot North Dakota
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#2

Re: Supersonic Ping Pong Ball

03/05/2013 2:41 PM

Very interesting!

I have some PVC pipe and a lathe plus vacuum pumps and pressure pumps as well.

Dang. No ping pong balls though. I guess I will have to go with the old tried and true ball bearings instead.

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lyn
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#3

Re: Supersonic Ping Pong Ball

03/05/2013 3:29 PM

Too much time, and too much fun.

Don't have any pictures of my tennis ball cannon, but it's 1/4" wall aluminum tubing about two feet long and a snug fit for the tennis ball, has a perforated plate about 6 inches from the bottom to stop the ball. Add 10 drops of gasoline and a puff of O2 through the ignition hole and fire away. Hearing protection is mandatory.

Shoots a tennis ball out of site, straight up.
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Ried
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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#5
In reply to #3

Re: Supersonic Ping Pong Ball

03/06/2013 12:29 AM

About 40 years ago we shot our tennis balls from a stack of pop cans. The "old" pop cans with the ring top and bottom. We used a couple of drops of lighter fluid in the bottom can, and could get 75 to 100 yards range with it.

Shaving cream was the load of choice though, it did not go more than 15 feet, but had a great scatter when you wanted to "cream" some one's room!

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SolarEagle
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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#4

Re: Supersonic Ping Pong Ball

03/05/2013 4:58 PM

Wow that's really fast!

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phoenix911
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Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

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#6

Re: Supersonic Ping Pong Ball

03/06/2013 12:49 AM

All for the name of science..

Nice link.

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