That's what I'm talk'in about: Supersonic Ping Pong ball gun

The warning at the end of this clip, by Purdue University professor Mark French, is "Do not try this at home." Yeah, right. French and his ME students are demonstrating a de Laval nozzle using a Ping Pong ball. They launch the thing at supersonic ...

Lee Teschler

Feb. 4, 2013

The warning at the end of this clip, by Purdue University professor Mark French, is "Do not try this at home." Yeah, right.

French and his ME students are demonstrating a de Laval nozzle using a Ping Pong ball. They launch the thing at supersonic speeds and, in so doing, impart enough force to blow a hole through a conventional Ping Pong paddle.

The paper describing their work is here: http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1301/1301.5188.pdf

About the Author

Lee Teschler

Editor

Leland was Editor-in-Chief of Machine Design. He has 34 years of Service and holds a B.S. Engineering from the University of Michigan, a B.S. Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan;, and a MBA from Cleveland State University. Prior to joining Penton, Lee worked as a Communications design engineer for the U.S. Government.