Experimental Process

     After submitting our proposal we had to decide what would be the best way to capture the pellet penetrating the object.  The first material that we attempted to shoot was aluminum foil.  After setting up our experiment the first time, without the computer interface, we found it very hard to capture the pellet in the picture.  We took many pictures with no pellet in it at all.   The method we used to try to capture the pellet on camera was to move the sound trigger a few feet away from the source of the the sound (the gun).  After lengthy experimentation, we found that we were having too much trouble without the help of the computer interface.  Therefore, we placed a delay on the flash by using a program on the computer called Intervalometer II.  This program allowed us to control the delay between the time that the sound reached the trigger, and the time that the flash went off.  After some time, we found a delay time that captured the pellet just as it was passing through whatever medium we were shooting at the time.  

Here are some of the photos that show our process of setting the delay:

	Here our delay was too long and we got the pellet after it hit.
	In this picture our delay was too short, therefore we had to do some adjusting.
	Finally in this picture we are able to capture the pellet just after it enters the metal.  Note the spray and ripple.
	After finding the correct pellet speed we had to find out what material would produce the best pictures.  First we tried Aluminum foil. These results were not what we were expecting.  Our camera was not fast enough to capture the minute amount of light that was produced when the two objects collide.
	Our next material that we used was balsa wood.  First laying flat, then standing up.  The standing on end pictures produced the best results.
	As you can see in this photo we have also had trouble with the lighting.  Thus we moved the light to the center and increased the aperture setting on the camera.  These results were slightly better.
	Our other problem was that the metals that we were also still experimenting with would give off a very bright glare.  Thus we had to paint the metal black and while we were at it we also painted the balsa wood black.
	Now that we have shown you our photojournal, or experimental process, you can see us at work on our project. Here is Dan loading the gun.
	Andrew setting up the piece of balsa wood.
	Here is the camera and flash setup.  (the flash is underneath the camera)