science fair central Maker Corner Activity
CATAPULT COMPETITION! Grade Level: High School
make. create. explore. www.ScienceFairCentral.com #ScienceFairCentral Do you know the difference between a catapult and a trebuchet?
Overview This activity focuses on the “Designing Solutions”, “Creating Students will investigate different kinds of catapults as they or Prototyping”, “Refining and explore how counterweights and levers work to launch Improving”, and “Communicating projectiles into the air. They will then apply what they have Results” stages of the Engineering learned as they experiment with building a mini-catapult, and Design Cycle. they will work in teams to optimize its design and maximize the distance and accuracy that its projectile can be launched. Engineering Design Cycle The class will then participate in a class-wide catapult challenge, and a catapult competition champion will be yy Defining the Problem crowned at the end! yy Designing Solutions yy Creating or Prototyping Have you ever wondered... yy Refine or Improve yy Communicating Results Who invented the first catapult?
The catapult was invented by Dionysius the Elder of Syracuse: a Greek tyrant who had conquered Sicily and Southern Italy1. Objectives He developed the catapult in about 400 BC so it could be Students will be able to: used as a siege machine that could throw heavy objects with immense force and for long distances. His design remained Understand the goal of a simple popular throughout medieval times. Some catapults that machine. evolved from Dionysius’s invention could throw rocks that Compare how two different kinds 2 weighed up to 350 pounds more than 300 feet! of catapults function.
What is the different between a catapult and a trebuchet? Design and create a mini Mangonel catapult, and explain the Trebuchets are a type of catapult. In fact, they are the French force behind its launch system. version of a catapult! The type of catapult that most people are familiar with is actually called a Mangonel catapult.
www.ScienceFairCentral.com #ScienceFairCentral Both catapult versions are similar in that they use stored energy to launch a projectile. Whereas a Mangonel catapult relies on one long arm that launches objects when its tension is released, a trebuchet functions more similar to a seesaw and relies on gravity and the energy of a falling counterweight to launch its projectile3.
What is a simple machine?
Simple machines are mechanical devices that help increase the force that someone can apply to an object so it requires less work to move it. There are six kinds of simple machines: pulleys, wheel and axles, inclined planes, wedges, screws, and levers. Catapults are examples of levers. Levers are made up of a rigid object like a board that moves on a turning point called a fulcrum. (Picture a see-saw!) The fulcrum could be in the middle of the lever or closer to one of the ends. When you use a lever, you need a smaller force to move something a longer distance.
Materials yy Catapult and Trebuchet Mangonel Catapult Materials: images, to project Divide your class groups of 3 or yy Projectile Brainstorm Handout, 4 students, and then distribute one per student the following: yy Mangonel Catapult Build Handout, enough for 1/3 yy Craft sticks, 8 per group of the class yy Strong rubber bands, at yy How to Build a Trebuchet least 6 per group video, to project yy Ping pong balls, one per yy Paper bags, one pack group yy Measuring tape yy Recycled plastic bottle caps, yy Painter’s tape one per group yy Marker yy Hot glue gun and hot glue, at least 2 or 3 for the class to share
www.ScienceFairCentral.com #ScienceFairCentral Make connections!
How does this connect How does this connect How does this connect to students? to careers? to our world?
The catapult is an example Mechanical Engineers The six kinds of simple of a simple machine. Though apply math and science as machines are used around catapults were invented they design solutions to the world today. While some centuries ago, simple machines problems. Some engineers continue to function alone are still constantly used today! in this field design machines as simple machines, others such as engines, elevators, combine two or more simple From chopping fruit to building and escalators! Many of the machines into a move skyscrapers and riding a machines they develop rely complex tool. bike, simple machines are on a combination of simple all around us and engineers machines4. Consider water use and access continue to use them on a around the world, for example. daily basis. Though many of Aerospace Engineer: Some developing countries still today’s innovations now rely For students who enjoy rely on pulleys to draw water on elements of technology, catapults because they from wells. A round water the root of today’s tools project items through the faucet is based off a wheel and is still centered on simple air, aerospace engineering axel, and most pipes are an machines. It therefore may be of interest! These example of inclined planes. remains important to have engineers help design and A modern water pump is even a working understanding create machines that fly, and based on the combination of of the fundamentals of they create and test prototypes two simple machines: a screw simple machines in order to to make sure they function that turns and moves water up understand the tools we use effectively5. an incline to a basin7. in our everyday lives. Toy Designer: As a toy By building an understanding designer, the sky’s the limit! of simple machines and how Toy designers must have they conserve energy, students creative ideas for toys that are gaining skills that can be children would like to play used to further engineering with, and they need to problems worldwide. create models of the toy that demonstrate exactly how the toy will function before it can be manufactured6.
www.ScienceFairCentral.com #ScienceFairCentral Blueprint for Discovery Prior to class arriving
yy Prepare the Catapult projection images or print out several copies of the images for students to examine in groups. yy Copy both handouts, so there are enough for each student. yy Assemble the Catapult materials so they are ready to distribute. yy Prepare for the Catapult Competition by completing the following: ○○ Find an area in the classroom that has at least eight free feet of space. ○○ In this space, place an eight-foot line of tape on the floor. ○○ Go back and mark every foot along the vertical line with horizontal lines, starting at the very beginning of the line. ○○ Use the marker to label the first horizonal line “Launch Line”. ○○ Then label eight paper bags with “1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet…8 feet”. ○○ Place the bags on the corresponding horizonal lines, so they indicate how far each bag is from the Launch Line. ○○ Secure the bottom of each bag to the floor with a piece of tape. ○○ Your final set-up should resemble the following: