Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball M

Ordinary folks can construct 13 awesome ballistic devices in their garage or basement workshops using inexpensive household or hardware store materials and this step-by-step guide. Clear instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build projects ranging from the simple—a match-powered rocket—to the more complex—a scale-model, table-top catapult—to the offbeat—a tennis ball cannon. With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind the projects, and profiles scientists and extraordinary experimenters such as Alfred Nobel, Robert Goddard, and Isaac Newton. This book will be indispensable for the legions of backyard toy-rocket launchers and fireworks fanatics who wish every day was the fourth of July.

Customer Reviews:

great project book
Great little project book. My 12 year old boy could not put it down. It gets to the little boy in us all. Who doesnt love launching potatoes at 200 fps by the combustion products of hair spray. A good how to primer, yet safe enough for young teens, with a little adult oversite. This would be a great stocking stuffer for boys 10 to 20.
--2006-12-11

Just plain fun!
This book reminds me of a book of science experiments I had as a boy, but these projects are a whole lot more interesting than many of the ones in that old book. Looking forward to trying some of these out with the grandkids one of these days.
--2006-11-10

Boom, Fling, Bang, What fun!
Silly me, I used Ether starting fluid in my first potato cannon. That is downright dangerous. But this was prior to having a nicely written book with several projects that I didn't even think of. I haven't tried any of these projects yet, but they have been carefully thought out with safety in mind. The author also gives interesting backgrounds to the projects. I wouldn't want to be "hoisted with my own petard" as Shakespeare wrote. I'm going to wait till winter with a snow cover before attempting the fire kite. Great stuff! I recommend this.
--2006-08-08

Backyard Ballistics
Great for dad's to indulge their childhood daydreams whilst spending time with their kids.
--2006-07-20

good read
very interesting--shows some of the ways we entertained ourselves before computers and play stations.
--2006-03-02

- Chicago Review Press