Vortex Cannon

TIME TO COMPLETE

30 min. to an hour

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?

You will learn to use a drill and jigsaw to cut a circlein a plastic buket to construct your vortex.

WHAT WILL YOU NEED?

Crafting Materials
Drill
Jigsaw
Other Materials
Tape (Duct, masking, etc)
Tools
Upcycled / Recycled materials

STEP 1

Draw a circle

Draw a 6‚Äì8" circle on the bottom of the bucket to mark the hole you will cut.

STEP 2

Drill and cut

Drill a hole large enough to fit your jigsaw blade in the bottom of the bucket near the center. Use the jigsaw to cut a hole along the line you drew.

STEP 3

Drill another hole

Drill a hole about an inch from the edge of the hole you cut.

STEP 4

Secure the bungee

Place one end of your bungee in the center of your garbage bag, then wrap the bag around the end. Wrap a zip tie around the bag where the hook on the bungee meets the cord. Tighten down the zip tie to secure it in place.

STEP 5

Add the trash bag

Place the trash bag over the mouth of the bucket so that the bungee is centered. Make sure the bag droops down into the bucket a little, then secure it around the edge with the other bungee cord. Use duct tape to help seal off the bag.

STEP 6

Attach the bungee

Attach the loose end of the bungee cord to the bottom of the bucket through the hole you drilled. You can now pull back on the bungee cord through the bag and let it go. A ring of air will shoot out of the cannon and travel over 20 feet.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Try adding talcum powder or fog from a fog machine inside the bucket to be able to see the ring of air as it escapes. Why not try to scale this up and use a trashcan instead of a bucket?

Please Note

Your safety is your own responsibility, including proper use of equipment and safety gear, and determining whether you have adequate skill and experience. Power tools, electricity, and other resources used for these projects are dangerous, unless used properly and with adequate precautions, including safety gear and adult supervision. Some illustrative photos do not depict safety precautions or equipment, in order to show the project steps more clearly. Use of the instructions and suggestions found in Maker Camp is at your own risk. Maker Media, Inc., disclaims all responsibility for any resulting damage, injury, or expense.