Suggestions for gun-related 8th grade science project neeeded

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Micro

Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2009
Messages
293
Location
In The Swamp
My 8th grade son got approval to perform a science project involving firearm(s). Of course, he won't be able to take any guns or ammo to school, but he will be able to show photos and video of his experiment.

The problem is, I am having a hard time coming up with a science project that is simple enough for 8th graders to understand (and me, too). So I'm looking for suggestions.

I have a pretty standard collection of handguns in various calibers, some shotguns and rifles, including .22LRs. I DO NOT have a chronograph nor do I reload. And I don't have a Ransom Rest.

Any suggestions? I love his enthusiams and love for guns, but this is actually a pretty tough one and I'm getting to the point of telling him to pick another subject.
 
ballistics is a pretty technical subject....seems a bit steep for 8th grade
too many variables in external ballistics, and not enough 8th grade level stuff to experiment with in internal ballistics
I once did a rocket science project in 8th grade, and there were just far to many variables
 
Maybe keep it simple possibly the history of various projectiles, rock,stick,spear,spear thrower,bow, oops forgot sling to throw rock,black powder and round ball ,blackpowder and minne ball ( the invention or rifling ) smokeless powder and ball ammo and finally smokeless powder and modern spitzer type projectile.
Or maybe pick a new topic. ( haha ) But really you should be able to come up with a humorous and realistic video everything from throwing rocks at stick animals to being enveloped in a cloud of smoke while trying to see your prey and eventually success with modern firearms. Maybe based on subsistance hunting. Man sounds like a lot of work but it could something fun to do with him before he grows up.
Sorry for rambling good luck.
T
 
Do something with home made ballistic gel, get lots of pictures and graphs and documentation.
 
I suppose you could do a test on the ballistic penetration of different rounds through different material like telephone books, wood, drywall, etc. You just need to make it more scientific somehow.
 
How about comparing a 22 lr accuracy and penetration
constant is a 22lr cartridge
then use a fullsize 22 hand gun
a 22 mouse gun
and a 22 rifle
i seen that somewhere
 
Use a series of photos and descriptions to show the development of firearms from the crude hand cannon of the Chinese up to a modern weapon. Don't under estimate the questions from kids, I went with a friend for a show and tell about modeling aircraft and R/C's in general to a class of 2nd graders, it turned out to be 4 or 5 different classes. Never knew those kids could come up really inquisitive and well versed questions about the how's and why's.
 
If you have an old muzzleloader or .45-70 he could research the defenses used against small arms (in the Zulu wars, civil war, etc) such as dirt, cotton bales and sandbags. Then actually test these materials out and display the remains of the recovered bullets along with penetration data.
 
I don't know if this is too simple and would be better if you had a chronograph, but what about taking a large target 4 feet tall or so and aim at the same spot at various ranges (25, 50, 100, 200, 300 yards) showing how the bullet drops with range. Then do the same with a different caliber/load and discuss what would cause the difference.
 
T Bran said:
Maybe keep it simple possibly the history of various projectiles, rock,stick,spear,spear thrower,bow, oops forgot sling to throw rock,black powder and round ball ,blackpowder and minne ball ( the invention or rifling ) smokeless powder and ball ammo and finally smokeless powder and modern spitzer type projectile.
Or maybe pick a new topic. ( haha ) But really you should be able to come up with a humorous and realistic video everything from throwing rocks at stick animals to being enveloped in a cloud of smoke while trying to see your prey and eventually success with modern firearms. Maybe based on subsistance hunting. Man sounds like a lot of work but it could something fun to do with him before he grows up.
Sorry for rambling good luck.
T
Click to expand...
This is a good idea, if he is adamant about sticking to a gun related topic.

Otherwise, pick a different subject.
 
I vote for "What is the best at stopping rounds from various calibers". It is good for PR and at least won't make him look crazy. I once tried to use an AK for a science project, but the paperwork got too bloody tiresome, so instead, I tested bottle waters for purity. I came to the conclusion that tap water is better.
 
This might start a "noisy" debate here on The High Road as well but....

prove that a bullet simply dropped from a height of 30 inches (or any height) will hit the ground a the same time as a bullet fired at 1,2, or 3,000 feet per second out of a barrel the same 30 inches off the ground (with the bore parralel to the ground and not accounting for the curvature of the earth). It can be proven... and it will mess with the science teacher's head.
 
Simple as it gets

What is the first thing you teach your kids about firearms???? SAFETY
Make a video demonstrating firearms safety DO's and DON'Ts
 
It won't mess with the science teachers head because he or she will already KNOW that.
Plus, you can't prove it on school grounds.

You need to pick another subject. Guns are no longer cool and edgy to most people, they are dangerous and anyone who uses them is a potential mass murderer. Yes, we all know this isn't true, but traditionally liberal school personnel do not. Your son DOES NOT NEED anyone remembering he did anything with firearms if he ever gets a detention or is anything other than a perfect model student.

The keyword here is discretion. You should show some.
 
Shooting Curious George

I remember a college physics course where the TA rigged an electromagnet that held a plush toy monkey (with a thin iron plate sewn on his head) high on a pole (his "tree"). A spring-driven rifle (one of those that fires a 3 inch plastic ball) is then aimed at Curious George, with an extremely thin wire across the muzzle.

The scenario: someone is hunting poor Curious George. As the hunter fires, George jumps from the tree straight down--what happens?

Answer: the bullet hits George every time, because the bullet and George fall at the same rate, due to gravity. With a slow moving "bullet" and enough distance, you can get a nice bullet path arc, so that the bullet hits George just before he hits the ground!

Mechanics: as the ball leaves the toy gun, it breaks the thin wire across the muzzle; that interrupts the electricity to the magnet, so George begins to fall as the ball leaves the gun. As long as the barrel is pointed right at George, gravity will do the rest.

They may not allow a toy gun in school. Maybe you could video the set-up working at home, and then play the video. I'm sure some would be horrified at shooting poor Curious George. :D

Or it may be too advanced. But it was one of the neatest little demos I ever saw.
 
Shotgun Gauges

Using pipe to replicate shotgun barrels/bores and lead balls share how shotgun gauges come to be.

For instance, it takes 12 lead balls the diameter of bore to equal one pound for a 12 bore. Twenty for a 20 bore, and so on.
 
If you are a reloader, maybe he could make up 5 or 6 loads all with the same primer and bullet, but different charges (of the same powder type) and graph the muzzle velocity with different charges.
 
Here are two simple ones:

1. Shoot at targets at diffent ranges with a .22 (say 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 yards). Label the range on each target. Use the same sight setting and aiming point on each target. Then plot a graph showing the trajectory, and display that along with the targets.

2. Shoot at ordinary typing paper and carefully handle the papers afterwards. On one paper, push the shreds on the back side of the target back into place. Show how the bullet penetrates -- by first overcoming the stretch and tensile strength of the paper fibers, making a small, irregular hole. Then the nose enters the hole and "shoulders" its way through, leaving a scuff collar and radial tears. Make up labels for the original irregular hole, the scuff collar, and the radial tears and attach them with scotch tape to the paper, with yarn connecting them to the parts of the bullet hole. Let the children see and handle the other papers.
 
Just talk about how much the 5.56 sucks at killing people and show videos of the killing power of the beloved 7.62x51 or 7.62x63, i remember how much violent videos caught my attention at school so it should be a hit with the children.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Science Fair Ideas
Replies
22
Views
4K
General Gun Discussions
justatexasboy
J
C
  • Locked
Stopping power/science project
Replies
7
Views
833
General Gun Discussions
Chip Dixon
C
D
  • Locked
Student’s Science Project May Stop Drug Smugglers
Replies
10
Views
740
Legal
RideTheLightning
R
L
  • Locked
Project on John Browning
Replies
22
Views
1K
General Gun Discussions
44AMP
4
manithree
  • Locked
Science Fair Project Safety Assessment
Replies
42
Views
2K
Handloading and Reloading
jmorris
jmorris
Top Bottom
Back