XPULT Science Project Catapult
XPULT Science Project Catapult
A hands‑on experimental catapult for science fairs, STEM classrooms, universities, and corporate training.
The XPULT Science Project Catapult was developed by Professors Terwiesch and Karl at the University of Pennsylvania as a practical, affordable tool for teaching experimentation, data analysis, and process improvement. Originally created as an accessible alternative to high‑cost instructional catapults, the XPULT delivers reliable, repeatable launches that make scientific concepts visible, measurable, and testable.
The XPULT made its first public debut aasasssssSSSt the Penn Wynne Elementary School Science Fair, where it quickly became the most popular exhibit — measured by the line of kids waiting to try it. Today, it’s used in K–12 STEM programs, university engineering and business courses, and corporate Six Sigma and process‑improvement training.
What’s Included
Every XPULT kit arrives with:
- The catapult itself, including a locking pin.
- Three rubber bands (size: 3 inches x 1/8 inch).
- A table tennis ball and a light plastic ball with small holes
- A clamp for attaching the catapult to the edge of a table
- Access to beginner and advanced teaching materials online
Everything is designed for quick setup and safe, classroom‑friendly use.
Why Makers, Educators, and Trainers Choose the XPULT
- Maker‑friendly design that encourages hands‑on exploration
- Repeatable performance ideal for data gathering and analysis
- Adjustable parameters for controlled experiments
- Affordable alternative to expensive instructional catapults
- Engaging for all ages — from elementary school to MBA programs
Perfect for Science Projects & STEM Fairs
The XPULT gives students a platform to design real experiments, collect data, and answer meaningful questions. Popular project ideas include:
- Should you launch with a high arc or a shallow arc to make a basket more reliably?
- Does a backboard change the optimal launch angle?
- Does a lighter ball travel farther than a heavier one?
- Which travels farther: a perforated ball or a table tennis ball?
- Can you model a projectile’s trajectory in Excel using real data?
Students learn to set up controlled trials, measure outcomes, and iterate — the core of the scientific method.
Beginner‑Level Experiments (Basic Instructions)
The basic XPULT guide introduces students to:
- Safe setup and operation
- How to adjust launch angle and pull‑back angle
- How to measure distance accurately
- How to work in teams (spotter, shooter, data recorder)
- How to run 10‑shot practice rounds
- How to predict flight distance using real measurements
Advanced Experimentation (Grades 11–College)
The XPULT supports deeper, data‑driven experimentation:
- Measuring variation across repeated launches
- Identifying sources of process noise
- Running 30–50‑shot trials for statistical significance
- Building histograms and analyzing distributions
- Calculating averages and standard deviations
- Comparing factor effects (angle, pullback, rubber bands, ball type)
- Optimizing settings to hit a target distance consistently
The XPULT’s repeatability makes it ideal for teaching how real processes behave — variation, drift, noise, and all.
Used in University Courses Worldwide
The XPULT is used in engineering, operations, and business programs at institutions including:
- University of Pennsylvania — Product Design
- INSEAD — POM Core Course
- Indian School of Business — MBA Core Course
Common topics taught with the XPULT:
- Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- Six Sigma and process capability
- Design of Experiments (DOE)
- Process improvement and optimization
- Variation analysis and factor effects
Corporate Training Applications
The XPULT is widely used in:
- Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt programs
- DOE workshops
- Process capability and variation‑reduction training
- Team‑based problem‑solving exercises
Its adjustability and repeatability make it ideal for demonstrating real‑world process behavior in a low‑risk, high‑engagement format.
Key Features
- Adjustable launch angle and tension
- Stable base for consistent, repeatable results
- Lightweight, classroom‑safe construction
- Designed specifically for data‑driven experimentation
- Supports both beginner and advanced experiments
- Teaching materials and sample projects available online
- A rare crossover tool: simple enough for kids, rigorous enough for university labs, and practical enough for corporate training.
Free Downloads
Assignments:
- Basic Instructions to view graphing and functions assignments for 7th through 12th grade.
- Advanced Instructions for statistics, standard deviation, and histogram, geared toward 11th grade through college.
- Higher Education Instructions for Problem Solving, Experimentation and Six Sigma in university coursework.
Spreadsheets:
- Example DOE table for Catapult Experiments.
- Xpult Simulator spreadsheet example for velocity, trajectory and launch angle.
Presentations and Slides:
- Problem Solving PowerPoint slides for classroom discussion.
- Process Capability PowerPoint slides for Six Sigma.
- Xpult Overview PowerPoint slides for key concepts.