The Dynamics of Catapults and Trebuchets (HS)
In this Sunday Academy session, students will learn the ways the historic European weapons catapults and trebuchets worked and they will also discover design choices that influence those devices performance. After review of the applications and basic differences between the two devices, the activities in the lesson will include design and construction of a catapult or trebuchet structure, considerations influencing optimization of its performance and then pay competition utilizing that performance. Academic principles of dynamics, stored energy, energy conversion, and projectile motion will be discussed.
objectives
Objectives of this session include learning
1. the concept of stored energy and the conversion to kinetic energy,
2. the fundamentals of the relationship between force and acceleration,
3. the descriptive qualities of ballistic trajectories
4. the connection between the topic and real-life engineering designs.
Topic(s)
Physics, energy, force
type
High school lesson from Sunday Academy
9-12
Grade(s):
time needed
6 hours
author
Ann Vallie and Dr. Bob Pieri
national next gen standards
north dakota standards
9-10.2.2. Use appropriate safety equipment and precautions during investigations
9-10.2.3. Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations
9-10.2.7. Maintain clear and accurate records of scientific investigations
9-10.2.8. Analyze data found in tables, charts, and graphs to formulate conclusions
11-12.3.8. Identify the principles and relationships influencing forces and motion