Introduction - PASCO MINI LAUNCHER ME-6825A Instruction Manual And Experiment Manual

012-09562A
The PASCO Mini Launcher has been designed for
projectile experiments and demonstrations. The only
additional equipment required is a C-clamp or
ME-9376B Universal Table Clamp for clamping the
Launcher to a table. The features of the Mini
Launcher include:
• LAUNCH AT ANY ANGLE Between -45° and
90°:
Balls can be launched at any angle from 0 to 90
degrees measured above the horizontal. The
magnetic piston holds the steel ball in position for
launch at any angle from 0 to 45 degrees mea-
sured below the horizontal.
WEAR
SAFETY
GLASSES
WHEN IN USE.
The angle is easily adjusted using the thumb
screw. The built-in protractor and plumb bob on
the side of the launcher give a convenient and
accurate way of determining the angle of inclina-
tion.
• THREE RANGE SETTINGS:
There are three ranges from which to choose.
They are approximately 0.5 meter, 1.0 meter, and
2.0 meters, when the angle is 45 degrees and
measured from table top to table top.
®

Introduction

DO NOT PUSH
PISTON
WITH
FINGER!
1
• FIXED ELEVATION INDEPENDENT OF
ANGLE:
m steel balls ONLY!
Launch
Pen or Rod
ton Clicks
Position
of Ball
UNCHER
The Mini Launcher can be mounted so that it
pivots at the muzzle end. The elevation of the
ball as it leaves the barrel does not change as
the angle is varied.
• REPEATABLE RESULTS:
There is no spin on the ball since the piston keeps
the ball from rubbing on the walls as it travels up
the barrel. The sturdy base can be secured to a
table with a C- clamp or a ME-9376B Universal
Table Clamp (not included) so there is very little
recoil. The trigger is pulled with a string to mini-
mize jerking.
• COMPUTER COMPATIBLE:
Photogates may be attached with the accessory
bracket (ME-6821A) to connect the Mini
Launcher to a computer to measure the muzzle
speed. Also a photogate at the muzzle and the
Time of Flight accessory (ME-6810) can be used
to time the flight of the ball.
Mini Launcher
Ball
Center of mass
Outer edge
of Ball