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Ping Pong balls can fly across the room thanks to potential and kinetic energy—and a simple rubber band! When you stretch the band back, you store energy (just like a slingshot). Letting go releases that energy, turning it into motion that launches the ball forward. The more you stretch, the more energy—and the farther it goes!

In this project created by Olivia, a member of the Rosie Innovators STEM program for young women in high school, you’ll build your own ping pong ball catapult to explore how energy can be stored and released to make things move. Ready to launch into action? Gather your materials and follow the steps below!

Required Materials

  • rubber bands
  • popsicle sticks
  • plastic spoon
  • ping pong ball

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1

Stack 5 popsicle sticks and tightly wrap one end with a rubber band.

Step 2

Pull apart the other end slightly and insert a new popsicle stick horizontally, creating a cross shape.

Step 3

Wrap another rubber band around the opposite end of the stack to secure it.

Step 4

Lay the spoon on top of the horizontal stick, with the handle pointing toward the center of the cross.

Step 5

Secure the spoon handle to the stick by wrapping a rubber band around them. The spoon should sit at an angle.

Step 6

Place a ping pong ball in the spoon. Pull the spoon back, let go, and watch the ball fly!

Real Women in STEM

Resource 1

Hypatia

Hypatia was an ancient mathematician and physicist who studied the motion of objects and how forces work. Her work helped people understand how things move through the air, similar to how your catapult launches a ball using energy and motion.