How to Make a Three Person Water-Balloon Launcher

Construction

• 1

  Cut the eight-foot length of surgical tubing in half.

• 2

  Place the funnel on a flat surface with the nozzle facing upward. Drill two 1/4-inch holes, on exactly opposite sides of the funnel, about one quarter of the way up the side of the funnel.

• 3

  Squeeze the end of a length of surgical tubing to compress it. Feed the compressed surgical tubing through one of the 1/4-inch holes. Repeat this process with the other length of tubing and the remaining hole.

• 4

  Tie a single overhand knot in the surgical tubing on the inside of the funnel. Pull the surgical tubing to stretch and secure the knot. Pull the surgical tubing from the outside of the funnel to secure the knot against the 1/4-inch hole. Repeat this process on the remaining tube and hole.

• 5

  Wrap the outside nozzle of the funnel with grip tape.

• 6

  Tie an overhand knot at the free end of each length of surgical tubing.

Operation

• 7

  Have two people each hold one end of the two lengths of surgical tubing. They should grasp the knotted tube with their hand furthest from the funnel. Ensure a non-slip grip by having the person holding the tube use his second hand to hold the surgical tubing beside the knotted are. The individuals holding the surgical tubing are known as the "holders."

• 8

  Separate the holders by approximately four feet.

• 9

  Place a balloon in the funnel.

• 10

  Grasp the nozzle by the grip tape covered area and pull downward and away from your target. The farther you pull, the more tension will be produced on the surgical tubing. This may require the holders to widen their stance and lock their arms to ensure the tubing is evenly stretched.

• 11

  Release the nozzle to launch the water balloon.