GoPro inside the Bowling Ball (Fail)

Published on May 6, 2019
Duration: 4:42

This video details the construction and testing of a custom-built black powder cannon designed to launch a bowling ball with an integrated GoPro. The experiment highlights the significant power of black powder and the challenges of managing extreme recoil, even with a heavy steel frame. The creator, an experimental ballistics enthusiast, demonstrates a high level of practical knowledge in custom propellants and launcher design.

Quick Summary

An experimental black powder bowling ball cannon was built to launch a GoPro-mounted ball. The second attempt used a large black powder charge, resulting in a massive blast that launched the ball out of sight. While the launch was powerful enough to bend the cannon's steel frame, the lost GoPro footage marked the experiment as a 'fail'.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Bowling Ball Cannon
  2. 00:13GoPro Integration
  3. 00:36Loading and First Attempt
  4. 01:31Second Attempt with Increased Charge
  5. 01:54The Launch and Aftermath
  6. 02:58Damage Assessment and Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the goal of the "GoPro inside the Bowling Ball" experiment?

The experiment aimed to launch a bowling ball with a GoPro camera mounted inside straight up into the air to capture unique flight footage. The creator, Edwin Sarkissian, sought to document the experience from the projectile's perspective.

What type of propellant was used in the custom bowling ball cannon?

The custom-built bowling ball cannon used black powder as its propellant. A significant quantity was measured and loaded for the second, more powerful attempt, resulting in a massive blast.

What happened to the custom cannon after the launch?

After the successful but uncontrolled launch, the cannon's heavy steel frame was inspected and found to be significantly damaged. The extreme recoil force had visibly bent the thick steel base plate of the launcher.

Why was the experiment considered a "fail" despite the successful launch?

The experiment was deemed a 'fail' primarily because the bowling ball and its integrated GoPro were launched so high and far that they disappeared over a mountain, making recovery and retrieval of the footage impossible.

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