Fields and Waves -- Bonus Design Project
Last Updated 17 December 1996
It is possible to earn a few extra credit points by building a device that launches
pieces of paper clips using a disposable flash camera. Below you should find access
to a simple figure for this project using ghostscript. You are to design and build a coil
that is connected to the wire that leads to the flash tube in the camera. . The number of bonus points you get will be equal to the
number of feet the projectile travels in excess of 15. My really cheesy version of this device was able to easily launch a piece of a paper clip 15 feet. You must obtain the camera from me and listen to
a tedious explanation of the project and the dangers of dealing with the camera -- it
contains a capacitor at 330 volts, I think. Be sure that you have a screw driver or some
similar object that will permit you to short out the cap, should your circuit fail with the
cap fully charged. For this project, you are not to use any other energy source or energy
storage source except the camera flash unit. You are to focus on designing the best possible
coil and leave it at that.
Check out the
BonusDesign Project
diagram.
Please send any comments or questions on this project to Prof. Connor and also check this site on a regular basis to make sure you have up-to-date information.