Catapults

1. Catapults By: Cierra Ragland & Dominique Henderson

2. What is a catapult? Catapults are siege weapons that were mostly used in the Middle Ages. These catapults were an invaluable part of Medieval siege attack weapons. Any machine that hurls an object can be considered a catapult. The design of many catapults worked by a central lever mounted in counterpoise, similar to see-saw movement.

3. Different types of catapults • The Ballista • The Trebuchet • The Mangonel • The Springald • The Onager http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://files.turbosquid.com/Preview/Content_2009_07_14__16_24_04/CATAPULT.JPGE11A0BE2-A84E-4792-870A26BBCD5316FE.jpgLarge.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/197338&usg=__7Swv_jz15SQ2A9yXqcQd_QTnIuE=&h=400&w=400&sz=35&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=iFqO9NzukkRJBM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcatapult%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

4. How they work • Ballista- highly accurate siege engine requiring expert building and design skills. It was similar to a giant crossbow and worked by using tension. • Trebuchet- highly accurate siege engine requiring expert building and design skills. The trebuchet was a scaled-up stave sling used to reduce fortresses and is a counterweight siege engine. • Mangonel-fired heavy projectiles from a bowl-shaped bucket at the end of its arm. This type of catapult was easy to construct and wheels were added to the design to ensure maneuverability. The Mangonels were capable of firing projectiles up to 1,300 feet.

5. How they work • Springald- One type of ballista, the springald closely resembled a crossbow in function with a vertical springboard fixed at its lower end to a timber frame. The springboard moved like a lever. • Onager-The Mangonel is also referred to as the Onager. Missiles from the Onager catapults were originally thrown from a sling - the sling was later changed for a bowl-shaped bucket

6. What they were made of • Timber • Bowl-shaped bucket • Rope • Human hair • Animal sinew • Wheels http://extra.listverse.com/amazon/ancientweapons/Trebuchet.jpg

7. What they were used for Catapults were siege weapons, used to attack fortresses or cities, causing flaming and piercing damage to walls, people and whatever stood in the path of their deadly projectiles. Middle age catapults were used to hurl large stones, spears, or other deadly projectiles at an enemy, causing damage to both property and people. They were, however, difficult to aim. Despite this, they were in use for centuries and took on many forms during their employment on fields of battle.

8. Basics of projectile motion A projectile is an object upon which the only force acting is gravity. There are a variety of examples of projectiles. An object dropped from rest is a projectile. An object which is thrown vertically upward is also a projectile. And an object is which thrown upward at an angle to the horizontal is also a projectile. A projectile is any object which, once projected or dropped, continues in motion by its own inertia and is influenced only by the downward force of gravity.

9. How our catapult was constructed My catapult was constructed using 33 popsicle sticks, masking tape, and a rubber band. The construction of my catapult shows the strength of triangles. My catapult, which most closely resembles the mangonel model catapult, is better for distance, than for height, because it goes further than it goes higher. http://www.dugnorth.com/blog/uploaded_images/Final_Antique_Catapult-764199.jpg

10. Our Catapult

11. Catapult Data Averages Initial Velocities

12. Vector diagram of trajectory of the ball

13. Bibliography • The Physics Classroom. "What is a Projectile?". October, 29, 2009 <http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/vectors/u3l2a.cfm>. This website describes the basics of projectile motion. • "Catapults". October, 29, 2009 <http://middle-ages.org.uk/catapults.htm>. This website describes the different types of catapults and the uses of catapults during medieval times.