Catapult

Published on 20 May 2022. Written by Athulya Menon

Your childhood is when you are most inquisitive and curious. Therefore, it is the time where you learn the most number of things because you ask all the right questions.

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Developing a love for science and technology should happen at such an age as this will lead to an innate interest in future years. One of the best ways to promote such an interest is by having children invest their time doing projects. School projects help children explore concepts they have studied in class. This helps in making science a whole lot more interesting. In this article, we will be looking at a project which will help students learn some physics by building their own catapult!

Project Description

The catapult was basically an antique weapon that worked as a ballistic machine that helped armies launch stones and lay siege on enemy fortifications. They were extremely powerful weapons in the ancient world and has helped many kings take down their enemy's forts and castles. Everything from stones to flaming balls can be launched by this machine, which meant it could make a lot of damage to forts and buildings.

In this project, we will build a miniature catapult using popsicle sticks or ice-cream sticks. This device will use the same physics and will help teach children the physics behind catapults. It is a simple, and easy-to-make project that utilizes everyday objects, and involves no added expense.

History of Catapult

Greeks and Romans used catapults almost 2,000 years ago, and they helped several empires rule the world. Catapults were used during the 17th century by everyone, including kings and pirates, to destroy enemy fortifications. Medieval knights also employed these devices to seize castle walls and enter into enemy castles. As they were long-range instruments, it helped armies cause maximum damage without taking any damage themselves.

Physics of Catapult

A catapult works much like a swing by converting potential energy, stored within the stone or object into kinetic energy when thrown. The object which is placed in the holder has stored potential energy in it. The catapult then uses this elastic potential energy and converts it into kinetic energy when it slings the object forward. This energy of motion is then transferred to the object that the stone hits, helping to destroy it.

Project Implementation

• Take about six sticks, and stack it, one on top of the other. Hold these in place by using sturdy rubber bands on either side.
• The launching stick is then attached to this stack.
• The launching stick must have a large bottle cap attached to its end.
• Take another stick and then glue it to the stack, perpendicular to the heap, in the middle.
• You can also attach the launching stick by using two rubber bands put across each other, like an X-mark.
• Attach the stick to a sturdy base. You can use a thick cardboard box as a base.
• The stick stack prevents the launch pad from falling onto the base.
• Due to the stack, the launch pad and base form a V-shaped structure.
• Now, you can fire the catapult, by placing a ball on the cap, pulling the stick back and then releasing it.
• Make sure you use the catapult only with light-weight balls. Otherwise, the device may cause injury to others.
• Also, never use the catapult to launch sharp objects.
• Never launch the catapult onto a crowded place. Always do so only in open spaces.
• Changing the position of the stack on the base will help you change the power delivered by the machine.
• Experiment with the set-up to discover more secrets behind the physics of catapults.

Concepts Used

• Basic Physics
• Fundamentals of Engineering
• Energy Transfer
• Projectile motion
• Kinematics of machinery

Components Required

1. Ice-cream sticks
2. Strong rubber bands
3. Glue Gun
4. Large bottle cap
5. Small-sized balls

Kit required to develop Catapult:

• rubber
• balls

Technologies you will learn by working on Catapult:

• physics
• kinematics

Any Questions?