h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

oaky this is my latest group assignment, we ahve to create a device that hops to propell a toad at least 3 metres, we have to get 3 metres just so then we get a passing grade, to geta higher grade it has to go further than that it quite litterally has to hop, it can't justy roll or fly... and we aren't allowed to spend more than £15 on propulsion

I didn't neeed this on a monday morning after I didn't sleep too good last night...

Does anyone have any ideas baring in mind that we only have two weeks in which to do this project and we don[t have access to vast resources... *looks at the time* I better go find Anthea

Khamsin

Hmmm... put a read toad in a box? And pretend it's a device? Or say it's toad-powered.

Erm - pneumatic power based on a strong person pumping it up, then the heavy top bit gets fired forwards, dragging the light base into the air with it?

*Trundles in*

That robot olympics thing had a hoppy machine that went pretty far. Had masses of elastic bands and worked like a crossbow with the bolt attatched (so when the trigger released the force went through the rod and whacked it forward).

Alternatively, why not do it the simple way - plank of wood over a barrel. Frog at one end. Foot at the other.

Whilst this would undoubtly kill said amphibian, at the end of the day hes probably now mentally unhinged after being flung around all day - best to be put out of his misery like.
(Alternatively you could make some hamster ball like device).

*trundles out*

Go to a toy store and buy a cheap clockwork toy. Take it apart, figure out how it works, and put it back together as a hopping toad.

Springs, that's the way to go.

any device used to catapult said toad must remain attached to said toad

it also has to bounce at least once so it has to jump or bounce... so it has to leave the ground and as how high it acsn bounce are 40% of the marks...

my reverse engineering skills are a bit rusty...

and Toads are out of season

I would suggest even though this will be denounced by many naimal lovers the world over.

That you take a small CO2 canister, some form of lubricant and a lighter and watch it fly....

I did think about a bottle rocket but I don't want to put my entire assignment on hoping a bottle would bounce within 3 metres and then bounce in a positive direction, ie not coming back towards me...

The CO2 would give you better control... You just have to get the trajectory right and the toad will fly far more than 3m....

Hmmm. The catapult could work it'd just take a bit of cunning (in that the amphibian pilot would become cargo). You just build an over weighted trebuche (weigh the arm to the point where it flings the machine over - highly dangerous but seriously cool).

Otherwise, the crossbow esque thing is probably your best bet as a bottle rocket would need a second person to aim (plus if our amphibian pilot decides to move it could go easily off course).

Of course, theres the other option...




It'd work (my uncle did it, although with no amphibian).



You scrounge a bit of tubing, buy a fat rocket, strap a cockpit to the front where our amphibian will reside, and let the girl fly!

Of course, the amphibian will no doubt be splattered across preston within a few heartbeats, man would it be impressive...