After a fluid mechanics class where it has been explained the movement of a fluid through a tube, a student interested in the subject decides to make an experiment at home. Therefore, by using the acquired knowledge, he decides to create a cannon where the projectile (ping-pong ball) is boosted by the force that causes the atmospheric pressure. To do it, he takes a PVC tube (Yield strength of 55 MPa) of 1.75 m of length and a section equal to the ball. He inserts the ball inside and seal the ends. The air is removed from the inside of the tube by connecting a vacuum pump. After he breaks the cover of the left end with a sharp object and the air penetrates into the tube and pushes the ball that moves along it until it reaches the other end, breaking the cover and leaving at high speed. The ball hits a small sculpture at a high speed and breaks it. He, curious about the result obtained, intends to apply his knowledge of engineering to find the speed at which the ball has been fired. The ping-pong ball has a mass m = 2.5 g and a diameter of 1.5 inch, the air density is ρ = 1.29 kg/m3 and the atmospheric pressure is p0 = 760 mm Hg.
