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Siege Machines, 2Nd Ed. Sample Table of Contents Introduction . 3 Using the Book . 4 Safety . 4 Siege History . 5 The Catapults Tension vs Torsion . .. 10 Experiment: Mass vs Distance . 11 Dueling Catapults . 12 Conversion of Length . 14 Calculating Averages . 15 Elasticity . 16 Experiment: Testing Rubber Bands . 17 The Ballista Understanding Torsion . 20 Experiment: Materials Testing . 22 Applying Ratios . .. 24 The Trebuchet Gravity & Levers . 26 Prediction . 27 Experiment: Right on Target . 28 Force & Motion . 30 Experiment: Swinging Weights vs Wheels . 32 The Challenge Laying Siege to the Castle . 36 Standards Addressed . 38 Additional Resources . 45 Bibliography . 46 1 Introduction Siege machines might have been ancient inventions built to bring an enemy to the breaking point, but the modern world has found a great deal of delight in them as well . Trebuchets, catapults, and ballistae were once used to destroy castle walls, to break through a line of troops, or to throw objects inside castle walls or on enemy ships . Now, these devices are loved for their ingenious use of science and math – and sometimes just for the sake of entertainment . From the Middle Ages to Middle Earth, catapults, trebuchets, battering rams, ballistae, and more have held our attention captive . Indeed, the entertainment industry has tapped into this fascination for some time: the British comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the epic Lord of the Rings films, and kid comedy Night at the Museum have all featured these flinging devices . Many of the big guns of siege warfare are so popular that they are built all around the world either as models, life-sized constructions, or some variation between the two . From small models built in classrooms in Trenton, New Jersey, to towering reconstructions in French chateaux museums, these historic weapons are capturing the imaginations of young and old alike . Math, physics, engineering, problem solving, and history are all topics that can be enhanced by building and using siege machines . Even building small versions can open up huge doorways to learning . 3 Using the Book TheSiege Machines book is designed to help students use Pitsco’s Catapult, Torsion Catapult, Torsion Ballista, and Trebuchet Kits to learn history, construction skills, math, science, and even teamwork . Teachers can use this book to develop activities and lesson plans for the classroom, but it can also be used by a parent and child having fun together at home . Whether directing an entire classroom or helping a single child complete a science fair project, Siege Machines covers a range of math and science topics geared toward Grades 5-8 . But this book also launches loads of fun for folks of all ages . Siege Machines is divided into three primary sections: The Catapults, The Ballista, and The Trebuchet . At the end of the book is a culminating activity as well as a listing of national standards addressed by the book’s activities, resources, and a bibliography . Safety When using any of the Pitsco siege machine kits, always adhere to the following rules to prevent injury: • The only approved projectiles for the Pitsco Catapult Kit and Trebuchet Kit are those made from modeling clay (available through the Pitsco catalog) . The Torsion Catapult can fire Styrofoam balls or modeling clay balls . The Torsion Ballista fires only Styrofoam balls . • Do not fire the catapult or trebuchet until everyone is clear of the target area. Do not fire directly at anyone . • When launching either device, the operator should take care to not get his or her fingers in the way. • The siege machine operator and anyone within firing range must wear safety glasses. 4 Siege HIstory The Flinging Begins The Greeks were the first to combine the science What’s in a Name? and engineering necessary to use siege craft as effective weapons of war . They built a variety of When reading the history of siege machines, devices including battering rams, siege towers, and it doesn’t take long to realize that one person’s catapults . trebuchet is another person’s bricole! The first Greek to focus on these new weapons There are numerous names and nicknames for was Dionysius I of Syracuse, who lived in the fourth the siege machines. The trebuchet is sometimes century B C. Collecting the best men of science and called a blida, bricole, couillard, machina, petrary, engineering that he could hire, Dionysius I built an or valsslonva. Some folks even call a trebuchet a artillery that awed his enemies . His smaller catapults catapult! That is, a gravity catapult. Speaking of threw arrows, javelins, and small stones up to 250 catapults, they were also dubbed onagers, ballistae, yards . His larger ones could toss stones that weighed and mangonel, just to name a few. up to 55 pounds . Dionysius I’s extra work on these devices came just in time to help a certain young Macedonian site where it would be used . His army used trees in the leader named Alexander – Alexander the Great . area they attacked for the timbers needed to construct the catapults . Alexander’s Conquering Catapults At this time, the catapult and its variations were To be fair, it was Alexander’s father, Philip II of powered by tension . This tension could come from a Macedon, who actually started the refinement of the configuration like the bow and arrow . The operator catapult and other siege weapons . Philip was the first pulled back a wooden or animal horn bow that was to figure out that it was much easier to carry only the built on a frame . They shot this by releasing the string basic parts of the catapults and to build the rest at the holding this bow . Or, they could use the tension from a strong but flexible catapult arm that was pulled back to the catapult frame – much like flinging mashed potatoes from a spoon . One of Alexander’s great achievements was mixing large-scale artillery with the infantry and cavalry . His ingenious use of the various military forces was no match for the many armies he faced as he gained rule over much of Asia . Aside from how he used his military equipment, Alexander also improved it . Hiring engineers, Alexander’s catapults soon found themselves aboard ships as well as on solid ground . After getting limited results from the tension catapult, his engineers developed the torsion catapult for added power . Alexander’s troops were creative in other ways – at times they catapulted barrels of poisonous snakes or hornet’s nests onto enemy ships . Roman ballista 5 Around the World They were often combined with other techniques . For Next to adopt the siege machines into their example, attacking forces might also tunnel under armies were the Romans . They began using the siege a castle wall to weaken its foundation . Then, they machines in the first century B C. ;. many of their would follow up with catapult or trebuchet artillery . historians left detailed descriptions of the devices and As time passed, rulers learned to build castles that their use in the Roman army . were better fortified – they could take the abuse of the Catapults turned into quite the globe-trotting siege machines without as much damage being done . machine . In the sixth and seventh centuries A D. ,. Some historians believe, overall, that sieges in the the Chinese developed catapults that used weight medieval period were not very successful . And when pulled by gravity to power the arm – the early they were successful, starvation was often the tool trebuchet . During the ninth century, catapults were used to defeat a castle . By blocking castle inhabitants used throughout Europe . Even the Vikings used siege from reaching supplies, attackers could starve the weapons when they attacked Paris in 885 . Their siege attacked to the point of surrender or defeat . was unsuccessful, but don’t blame the weapons – the But if siege machines didn’t always bring down Vikings failed to form a complete blockade around the castle walls, they could be used for primitive the city . biological warfare . Besiegers would often find dead animals and try to spread disease by throwing them Crusading Catapults inside the castle walls . In the tenth century, the Crusades began as Christian soldiers from Europe invaded the Middle East, attempting to take the area from the Muslims . Over the next two hundred years, the two forces fought many bloody battles . Perhaps the best-known rivalry was between Richard the Lionheart, king of England, and Saladin, the ruler of Egypt . From within the important coastal town of Acre, Saladin and his troops watched Richard’s forces – along with the French – build catapults and massive siege towers . They began to worry about the siege soon to come . The Muslim soldier Damascus suggested they build their own catapult . The Muslims did build catapults and trebuchets . Instead of throwing rocks, they threw a chemical compound that was afire . The compound made short work of burning the siege towers to the ground . This new twist intensified the battle considerably . But after months of more fighting, Richard finally did take the city . Medieval Mayhem Catapults and trebuchets were the great artillery Built in 1068 by William the Conqueror, the well-preserved weapons during most of the medieval period – used Warwick Castle in England has been witness to much history. It was rebuilt with stone in the 13th century, and in not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and 2005 it became home to one of the largest modern trebu- other parts of the world . However, the siege machines chets – almost 60 feet tall and weighing 22 tons. were not always used on their own to attack a castle . Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.com 6 The heyday of the siege machine started to wane A Return to the Past in the fifteenth century .
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