Forces & Motion
Vertical Ball Launcher
Press a 3D-printed plunger to one of four marked depths, release it, and measure exactly how high a foam ball launches.
Photos coming soon
About This Kit
What makes this kit special.
A calibrated steel spring inside a precision-bore 3D-printed tube launches a foam ball to a measurable, reproducible height at each marked compression depth. Four marked depths turn every launch into a controlled data point that children can record, average, and graph.
Designed, 3D-printed, and assembled by 9th-grade students at West Shore Jr/Sr High School, Melbourne, FL — a student-led nonprofit serving Brevard County.
Support this kit
KitCraft Collective
Help us put the Vertical Ball Launcher in a child's hands.
Every donation goes directly toward materials, 3D printing, assembly, and delivery to pediatric wards and shelters across Brevard County.
Cost to sponsor
You fund
1 full kit
- 100% to kit production — zero overhead
- Delivered by students to verified orgs
- Handwritten letter in every kit
- Tax-deductible contribution
What they'll learn
Learning Objectives
- Newton's third law in action01
- Compressed springs store potential energy02
- More compression equals greater height03
- Gravity decelerates rising objects constantly04
- One variable changed at a time05
- Multiple trials reduce random variation06
Hands-on exploration
Activities
Snap the plunger into the tube and launch at 100 percent compression
Stick the height tape to a wall and measure peak height at each depth mark
Record 3 launches at each of the 4 compression marks and calculate averages
Predict the height for a depth you have not tested, then test it
Time hang duration at each compression level alongside height
Launch the foam ball and a crumpled paper ball at the same setting and compare
Run the full experiment a second day and compare results for consistency
Where Kits Go
Built here. Delivered with love.
Every kit is hand-delivered by the students who built it to verified partner organizations.
Pediatric Wards
Delivered directly to children in hospitals across Brevard County who need a moment of joy and wonder.
Partner Schools
Distributed to title-I schools and after-school programs serving underserved communities.
Community Centers
Sent to shelters, family resource centers, and nonprofit organizations across Melbourne, FL.
Behind the Kit
From first sketch to final delivery.
CAD Design
Students model every component in Fusion 360, optimizing geometry for FDM quality, structural integrity, and child-safe tolerances.
3D Printing
Parts printed layer by layer on school printers using BPA-free, food-safe PLA at precisely calibrated settings.
QA Inspection
Every piece hand-inspected — edges deburred, tolerances verified with calipers, dry-run assembled.
Kit Assembly
Parts sorted in build order, bagged, and paired with instructions and a handwritten letter from the builder.
Delivery
Hand-delivered by students to partner schools, pediatric wards, and shelters across Brevard County.
What's inside
Materials Included
- 3D-printed launch tube, 45 cm, bore sanded smooth, 4 depth marks engraved
- 3D-printed compression plunger with safety-stop collar at 100 percent
- Pre-installed calibrated steel coil spring, rated 10,000+ compressions
- 2 foam launch balls, 3.5 cm diameter, high-visibility yellow
- 200 cm height measurement tape, wall-safe adhesive
- Launch data worksheet with graph template
- 6-page illustrated assembly and safety guide
Child-safe by design
All components are BPA-free, burr-free, and verified safe for the target age group. Engineered for repeated assembly and disassembly.
Every kit includes
Bonus Extras
Beyond the build materials, every kit includes thoughtful extras — chosen to delight and make each child feel genuinely seen.
- Handwritten letter from the student who built your kit
- Forces Explorer certificate of completion
- Second session data recording sheet for comparison
- Newton's Laws reference card, laminated, launcher examples
- Try This Next card: stomp rockets and rubber band launchers
Help us deliver the Vertical Ball Launcher to children who need it most.
Every kit starts with a generous sponsor. Your $24 covers materials, 3D printing, assembly, and hand-delivery to pediatric wards and shelters across Brevard County.
100% toward production · Zero overhead · Tax-deductible
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