The straw should be much closer to the counterweight than it is to the hook. (This distance is something you can try adjusting later.).
Trebuchet Calculator Program Password Login NotLearn More Skip to main content Subscribe Latest Issues Menu Scientific American Cart 0 Sign In Email: Password: Forgot password Login Not yet registered Stay Informed Search Subscribe Close Search Close Search Advanced Search Coronavirus The Sciences Mind Health Tech Sustainability Video Podcasts Opinion Publications Subscribe Current Issue Cart 0 Sign In Stay Informed Share Latest.In the Middle Ages armies would use them to hurl stones at castle walls. But did you know about an even bigger type of medieval siege weapon called a trebuchet Try this project to build a miniature version. ![]() It relies on gravitational potential energythe type of energy you get by raising something up off the ground. A trebuchet has a lever arm with a large, heavy counterweight on one end and a smaller projectile on the other end. When the counterweight is raised up, it has lots of gravitational potential energy. Then the counterweight is allowed to fall, rotating the lever arm and converting that potential into kinetic energy in the projectile, which is flung through the air. A toy trebuchet might seem harmless, but even a small projectile can cause eye damage. It will have two A-frame shaped pieces on the sides and one crossbar on the top. There is more than one way to do this, so the procedure described here is just one method. For example, you could decide to build the entire frame out of pencils instead of popsicle sticks and you can choose whether you want to use tape, glue or rubber bands to secure the different joints. Think of this as an engineering design projectthere is no single right answer or correct way to build the trebuchet. You can modify your design based on your own ideas and the materials you have available. Use two long pieces and one half-piece to form an A but make sure you cross the long pieces slightly at the top to form a miniature V shape. This will leave a small notch for the pencil to rest in later. Reinforce the connections with glue, tape and some extra popsicle stick pieces if necessary so they remain standing on their own. Carefully cut two small notches on either side of a popsicle stick close to one end. ![]() If necessary, make the notches deeper or secure the string with tape, glue or rubber bands. Why do you think it is important in this design to have a counterweight How does it help employ the idea of gravitational potential energy. This will serve as a hook to hold the sling, which in turn holds the projectile. Attach this perpendicular to the popsicle stick arm using glue, rubber bands or tape. The straw should be much closer to the counterweight than it is to the hook. This distance is something you can try adjusting later.).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |