Slingshot Shape

Introduction

In 2014, a total of 357 Flagstaff citizens were interviewed on the suitability of children play facilities in
Flagstaff. From this interview we now that the majority of Flagstaff citizens thinks that the city needs more
children play facilities that provide interactive display. With this lack of facilities, we decided to make a
product that meet childrens needs.

As stated in the introduction section of this teams full report, this project aims at initiating a product to
be used in the Wonder Factory where learning can be generated through play. After a thorough analysis
and evaluation of all the designs options available, we decided one particular design for this product and
I will explain the consideration of the shape of this product.

Variable Considered and Physical Modeling

Slingshot physics involves the utilization of stored elastic energy to shoot a projectile at high speed. This
energy comes from the rubber band made especially for slingshot. This energy is initially provided by the
muscle energy of the human using the slingshot.

In our design, we use a conventional Y-shaped slingshot. I will provide the illustration of conventional Y-
shaped slingshot that is being used.

Figure 1- Conventional Y-shaped slingshot

(Source: https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/slingshot-physics.html)

The red dot represents the position at which the rubber bands start being drawn. At this point there is
no tension in the rubber bands. When the user start to draw the rubber bands, variable d and F appeared.
The distance d represents the draw distance and the force F represents the draw force.

The figure below illustrates the draw force F as a function of draw distance d for a conventional Y-shaped
slingshot.
 Figure 2- Draw force vs draw distance graph for Y-shaped design

(Source: https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/slingshot-physics.html)

From the explanation above we now know that the slingshot should be able to bear the force that
generated from user pulling the rubber bands

Figure 3 Illustration of huge slingshot

(Source: http://digg.com/video/german-guy-launches-a-christmas-tree-from-a-massive-slingshot)

This image shows an example of how the slingshot would look like in after this product is complete.

Tensile Stress and Shear Stress

Tensile stress is the stress state caused by an applied load that tends to elongate the material in the axis
of the applied load, or in other words, the stress caused by pulling the material. (Corrosionpedia, 2017)
()
=

with :
 = stress measured in Nm-2 or Pascal (Pa)
F = force in Newton (N)
A = cross-sectional area in m2
However in this conventional Y-shaped slingshot, there is little to none tensile force applied on the
slingshot, therefore we can ignore the tensile stress in this product.

Figure 4 Handle in Y-shaped slingshot

(Source: https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/slingshot-physics.html)

As we can see at the image above, the force generated from the user is perpendicular with the slingshot,
thus we only use shear stress calculation on this product.

In physics, shear stress is a stress state in which the shape of a material tends to change (usually by
"sliding" forces -- torque by transversely-acting forces) without particular volume change. (Sciencedaily,
2017)
()
=

with:
= stress measured in Nm-2 or Pascal (Pa)
F = force in Newton (N)
A = cross-sectional area in m2

Figure 5 - Mean maximum human pulling strength

(Source: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dti.gov.uk/files/file21830.pdf)
This is the mean force used to open a door knob, the average force used is 300N, let us say that the
force used to pull the slingshot is assumed twice as big, which is 600N.

And one assuming the cross sectional of the steel beam used is 15cm = 0.15m
() 600
= = = 4000
0.15
So the slingshot has to be able to hold the shear stress of 4000Pa.

Conclusion

So the main focus here is how to keep the slingshot can be used properly by holding the slingshot itself
from the deformation caused by shear stress. The extra feature provided by this product which is a pulley
that can bring the ball back without the user going there to pick the ball doesnt need any particular
calculation to be function properly.

Reference

[1] Blessing, L. T. M., & Chakrabarti, A. (2014). Drm, a design research methodology. Heidelberg: Springer.

[2] Bechtel, W., & Richardson, R. C. (2010). Discovering complexity: Decomposition and localization as
strategies in scientific research.

[3] https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/1073/tensile-stress

[4] https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/shear_stress.htm

[5] https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/slingshot-physics.html

[6] http://digg.com/video/german-guy-launches-a-christmas-tree-from-a-massive-slingshot