Cease Fire!

Due to current weather conditions, we will not be firing our cannons until the spring, so until then . . .

comment on blog :)

Enjoy!

~Samantha Diane :)

Math Component

Step 1: Identify the equation.
• When subbing in the appropriate values, the equation is h= -16t2+192t+32, with 192 being the initial velocity and 32 being the starting height.

Step 2: Identify your variables.
• A: -16
• B: 192
• C: 32

Step 3: Find the time (t)
• To find t you use the quadratic formula: -b±√(b2-4ac)/2a
• Sub in the values of a, b, and c as verified above.
• -(192)±√((1922)-(4*-16*32))/2(-16)
• This equation simplifies to -192±(√38912)/-32 = -.166 or 12.16
• Considering it is not possible to have a negative time, 12.16 is (t)≈12 seconds

Step 4: Find the height (h)
• To find the height, you must find first the x-coordinate of the vertex. This can be found in the equation x= -b/2a
• Sub in the above values to get -192/2(-16) which computes to 6.
• Next you have to simply sub in 6 for x (t) in the equation to get the y-coordinate (height)
h= -16t2+192t+32.
• h=-16(6)2+192(6)+32 which simplifies to h= -576+1152+32= 608 ft

Final Answer:
• Quadratic Model: h= -16t2+192t+32
• How high does the cannonball go? 608 ft
• How long is the cannonball in the air? 12 seconds

Weapons of Mass Destruction

The qualifications to be a WMD are:

• uses projectile motion to launch the ammunition
•  the killing of humans and other wildlife
• destruction of natural landmarks (mountains, rivers, etc)
• destruction of man-made objects (buildings, railroads, etc)

So,  by definition, cannons are considered weapons of mass destruction because they meet all four of the qualifications!


There are four types of WMDs:

• Biological
• Chemical
• Nuclear
• Radiological

Biological weaponry uses diseases or other harmful substances to cause destruction.

       Ex/ variola major (a severe form of smallpox)

Chemical weaponry uses chemicals to harm many life forms.

       Ex/ Chlorine

Nuclear Warfare uses nuclear reactions to cause harm man-made objects,  natural landmarks, and life forms. These WMDs cause long term effects on societies and could polute the atmosphere. 

       Ex/ Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Radiological warfare uses radiation poisoning without relying on nuclear fission/fusion.

       Ex/ Salted bomb

I don't agree with any type of weapon of mass destruction because no good comes from them. Lives of innocent people are being taken, and they could possibly infect an area for years. Even if you kill the one person you wanted to, or knock down the one building, too much destruction will be caused to make it worth it.