For example, if you are under attack, do you move your catapult backward as the enemy draws closer? Do you angle it to force your projectiles toward a specific target? Do you launch while moving? How does that affect the trajectory of the projectiles? Have fun experimenting! Attach the other ends of the elastic to the base and sides of the catapult structure as shown above. Cut three pieces of catapult elastic and attach evenly around a plastic container. Calculate the distance versus speed while moving it to achieve the trajectory you desire. Build a frame using the sticks and string. To fire the catapult, load the bucket with a projectile and carefully push the anchor hook out of the eyebolt. Lower the arm, hook it into position, and remove the locks. Increase the cord's tension by turning the dowels forward. Glue plastic bottle cap on the end of a craft stick facing up. Mark spots on the frame and arm where the anchor and eyebolt will be screwed in. Directions (Optional) Decorate the craft sticks and bottle cap to your liking and wait till dry. Lower the throwing arm down to the frame. Shooting hard objects or using other homemade catapults can be. Insert the 1⁄8-inch dowel into the smaller hole. Note: The simple catapult described in this project is safe when used with a cotton ball. Rotate the dowels toward the front of the frame until the arm presses against the crossbeam. Insert the 5⁄8-inch dowels into the cord loops position the throwing arm in the middle of the cord. įeed the folded cord through the ¼-inch holes, leaving ½ inch of cord on the outside of the frame. Let’s understand the science behind mechanical energy and torsion, and put that maker grit to work!įold the nylon cord in half twice tie the loose ends with a square knot. Precise measurements are key to making all the pieces work well together. Step 1: Platform First you need to make a platform.

Our design can't quite do that, but it's perfect for kids to build and use in games and experiments.īuilding this catapult takes math, science, and engineering skills. The onager catapult was a central siege engine for the Romans from the 4th century AD until the 6th century AD, capable of launching projectiles over 400 feet to breach castle doors and walls. The Roman empire's onager catapult used torsion-twisting an object, in this case a restraining rope or spring, by applying torque-to build tension in the arm and generate a powerful swing. Buy it now and start your kid's journey to making something great! This helps you aim the cotton ball forward.100+ STEAM Activities Kids Won't Learn In School has the ultimate collection f experiments, projects, riddles, and trivia designed to help kids master early concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Pushing your six sticks the other direction creates a greater angle between the launching stick and the base. This results in a cotton ball aimed more upward than forward. Moving the stack of six sticks closer to the launching cup makes the launching stick lie flatter. In the case of your catapult, the cotton ball probably flew higher and farther. Bending farther means more energy gets stored in the stick, and when you let go, all this stored energy is converted into energy of motion, so the cotton ball flies through the air at a higher speed. In January 2011, a homemade catapult was discovered that was used to. Maybe you felt you needed to exert more force or work harder to bend the stick farther. A catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the. Pushing the stick down farther takes more effort from you. Most of this energy transfers to the cotton ball, which shoots through the air. When you let go, this energy is released and converted to energy of motion. When you bend your stick, you load your launching stick up with energy. Do you get similar results each time? Is what you observe what you expected? Can you explain why?ĭid you see your cotton ball fly higher and farther when you pushed you launching stick farther down?

Homemade catapult