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MECE 301 · Spring 2026
High-Velocity Vacuum Launcher
Physics-based modeling and experimental validation of a vacuum-driven launcher for a ping-pong ball projectile.
Objective
Design and validate a vacuum-driven launcher capable of accelerating a ping-pong ball to high velocity.
Modeling
Developed a MATLAB model incorporating compressible flow, pressure losses, adiabatic compression, viscous pipe friction, and Euler integration.
Experimental method
Measured exit velocity with an IR sensor and ballistic-block momentum method, then compared experimental results with the physics-based model and uncertainty analysis.
Result
Average measured exit velocity was approximately 196.6 m/s at 5 kPa and 172.0 m/s at 10 kPa.
