Question

catapult/trebuchet report
answer all of the following questions in complete sentences. each section of this report may have multiple questions. be sure to answer each to receive full credit.
description of your catapult:
why did you build your catapult the way you did? what was your main thought during design about which part matters most? which type of catapult did you end up making?
how does your catapult work?:
what is tension? where is the tension stored in your catapult? how was tension historically stored? why is yours different/the same as ancient catapults?
sketch or picture of your catapult:
insert a picture of your groups catapult. if you do not have one, please insert a sketch.
how successful was your catapult at hitting the 3 targets?

Explanation:

To answer these questions, one would describe the design - explaining the reasoning behind the design choices and identifying the type of catapult. Then, explain the mechanism of the catapult, define tension and discuss where it is stored in the catapult and how it compares to historical catapults. Insert a visual representation of the catapult if available. Finally, assess the catapult's performance in hitting targets.

Answer:

s would vary based on the actual catapult built. For the description of the catapult: "I built a torsion - based catapult because I wanted to utilize the power of twisted fibers for maximum force. The main thought during design was that the torsion spring mechanism was crucial. I ended up making a torsion catapult." For how it works: "Tension is a pulling force exerted by a stretched object. In my catapult, tension is stored in the twisted ropes. Historically, tension was stored in twisted animal sinews or ropes. My catapult's tension storage is similar in concept but uses modern materials. My catapult works by releasing the stored tension in the ropes which causes the arm to swing and launch the projectile." Regarding the sketch or picture, if available, insert it. For success in hitting targets: "My catapult was able to hit 2 out of 3 targets, showing a moderate level of accuracy."