If the axle extends past the frame, you may wish to affix cotter pins or caps to its ends to keep it from slipping out when you launch projectiles. This article has been viewed 398,555 times. The notches should be wide enough to slide in a piece of string. Many people and resources helped us with this project. A backyard trebuchet could be made of wood or PVC pipe with a 24-inch (60 cm) base and a 32-inch (80 cm) swing arm. Watch. Attach a small loop of string to your AA battery using tape or rubber bands. Both the overall length and the ratio between the distance from the pivot to the counterweight and the pivot to the sling. How does that work? Now it is time to test your trebuchet. A well-built trebuchet should be able to hurl an eraser a few feet. Step 2: Piece of corrugated cardboard, about one foot by one foot, Glue (a hot glue gun is best if available, but use caution and adult assistance when using hot glue. Assemble all your materials in a location that is open and clear of people, animals or breakable objects so that you can test your trebuchet. It relies on gravitational potential energythe type of energy you get by raising something up off the ground. Today. Heather has a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis with a focus on hydraulic structures and environmental design. Step 1: In Singapore on the other hand they super glued the screw part to the trebuchet and the eye part was used to cling onto the counterweight. Materials Eight craft sticks (popsicle sticks) Four or five sturdy rubber bands Glue Plastic bottle cap to hold a cotton ball Cotton ball (If you do not have any available, you can make a. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. All rights reserved. Depending on exactly how you built your trebuchet, the results you see will vary. Round Pencils (as an axle) 7. Teach students about history, trajectory, mathe-matics, etc. Editors Note: The design used in this experiment was inspired by the book Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare, by John Austin, which contains many more designs for mini siege weapons you can build from common household supplies. Make sure your trebuchet is sturdy and the frame holds together. Create a structure as shown below. November 21st, 2014. Fortify the base from the other side by sticking more Popsicle sticks. Hey sorry. Save up your Popsicle sticks and turn them into a toy catapult. The trebuchet competition requires that a projectile (usually a tennis ball) be thrown via a sling at a cardboard castle. But did you know about an even bigger type of medieval siege weapon called a trebuchet? 'how to make a mini trebuchet out of popsicle sticks april 18th, 2018 - how to make a mini trebuchet out of popsicle sticks the trebuchet is a medieval device not unlike a catapult that was used in warfare to hurl damaging object' 'popsicle stick catapult worcester polytechnic institute You can control the point at which the sling opens and the projectile releases by bending the release pin nail: bend it more if the projectile flies too high and bend it less if the projectile flies too low. Ben Finio is a senior staff scientist at Science Buddies and a lecturer at the Cornell University Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Try rotating the arm with your hand. Create a structure as shown. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. As the arm swings, the sling holding the eraser slides off the hook and the eraser's kinetic energy causes it to fly through the air as a projectile. You can modify your design based on your own ideas and the materials you have available. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. For a small trebuchet, you may want to make them 1 foot (30 cm) long; for a larger trebuchet, they can be longer. Use only soft projectiles for an indoor trebuchet, and for an outdoor trebuchet, make sure to have a wide open space in front of the siege engine. Glue the binder clip to the end of the top popsicle stick. I know you used that to attach the axle, but what did you use to attach the counterweight? Catapult or trebuchet is made out of 4 different materials, meets size requirement and follows the rules. Built with Popsicle sticks, a binder clip, bottle cap and hot glue, this DIY Catapult will shoot distances of around 20 feet! I don't think you should use this website to get follows from people, this is about education. Whatever you decide you want to launch with your trebuchet, your counterweight should be from 100 to 133 times the weight of your projectile. Take five popsicle sticks and cut one of them in half. You should be able to tinker with your design a bit to get your eraser to launch. Make a small loop on one end of the wire and attach some string to the loop. Build the base of the trebuchet using popsicle sticks and stick them to each other using super glue as shown. (This distance is something you can try adjusting later.). Twist an elastic band around each end to hold them in place. If it releases too late, the projectile will slam into the ground in front of the trebuchet. If you plan to use your trebuchet indoors, youll want to make a small trebuchet. The eye hook for the sling will go on the end furthest from where you drilled the holes. Sharp Scissors or a Knife 6. Popsicle Stick Crafts kids craft ideas com. April 18th, 2018 - How to Make a Mini Trebuchet out of Popsicle Sticks The trebuchet is a medieval device not unlike a catapult that was used in warfare to hurl damaging object Marshmallow Catapults Squarespace April 22nd, 2018 - Marshmallow Catapults Talk with students first about what a catapult is and how BUILD INSTRUCTIONS 1 Glue two . Super Glue 3. Use double sided tape if necessary. Use your scissors to add small pieces of wood from the Popsicle stick to fortify the throwing arm. Tape the popsicle sticks together using masking tape. The straw and pencil form a pivot and should allow the arm to rotate. You may print and distribute up to 200 copies of this document annually, at no charge, for personal and classroom educational use. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Cut the head off the nail to keep the sling from catching. You can also tie both string ends to wire loops to make it easier to put the sling on and remove it from the hook. Carefully cut slots in your piece of corrugated cardboard that will allow your A-frame pieces to stand up straight, a few inches apart from each other. Many medieval trebuchets were larger and could hurtle projectiles even farther than catapults. For our project, we were allowed to build a trebuchet of any size that we wanted. Use one hand to pull down on the eraser. This should raise the counterweight up in the air. Let's make a catapult. 6. What happens when you let the eraser go? When drilling holes through the swing arm, use the bit the next diameter larger than that of the axle or possibly even 2 sizes larger. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. How to Build Catapults for a Science Project Play Catapult. Youll find stories about SWE members, engineering, technology, and other STEM-related topics. Create a small cradle like structure and attach it to one end of the arm. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. A trebuchet is a type of catapult, but it uses gravity to launch the projectile. Two uprights. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. September Engineering Activity: Slime Chemistry, FY21 Board of Directors and Board of Trustees Installation Goes Virtual, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Highlighting Asian American Engineers Pt. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). It does not store any personal data. X Enjoy! Please rate this Instructable and follow me if you liked it :). The eye hook for the counterweight should be closed, unless you plan to change the counterweight often. If you have any LEGOs about the house, I bet you could use them in place of the popsicle sticks. You should be able to tinker with your design a bit (see recommendations at the end of the procedure) to get your eraser to launch. (We do not recommend using glue for this stepthat way you can remove the crossbar and swap out the arm to make changes.). Try this project to build a miniature version! Remove the eraser from the pencil and attach it to a small loop of string. I had students build a popsicle stick trebuchet as a mini project in my physics class when we are covering projectile motion. Double-Sided Tape 4. You'll need to wrap the rubber band around several times to make it nice and secure. You can make a wooden trebuchet with a base about 12 inches (30 cm) and a swing arm of about 16 inches (40 cm) or a smaller and lighter model out of popsicle sticks. Build the base of the trebuchet using Popsicle sticks and stick them to each other using super glue as shown. What happens if you use something other than an eraser, such as a small balled up piece of paper? If any of the joints seem weak or the frame wobbles significantly, reinforce them with tape, glue or rubber bands. If you find the trebuchets sling too awkward to bother with, you can replace the sling and its hook with a scoop-shaped bucket. Step-2: Attach Vertical Supporting Structures Do not get confused!! Mechanical engineers are part of your everyday life, designing the spoon you used to eat your breakfast, your breakfasts packaging, the cap on your toothpaste tube, and much more! -John ] Josh 7/16/2005 at 8:30 pm Try this project to build a miniature version! What happens if you make the sling longer or shorter? To build your trebuchet, you will build a frame that looks almost just like a swing set. Research source If you plan to use your trebuchet outdoors, you'll want to make a larger trebuchet. Stick the ends of the A-frame pieces into the slots. [1] You can build a smaller versions of a trebuchet on your own to learn about the physics behind them. Difficulty Medium. A trebuchet is a device used in the Middle Ages to launch very heavy objects at opponents during battle. 10 years ago In this event, prior to the competition, teams will design, construct, and calibrate a single device capable of launching projectiles onto a target and collect data regarding device parameters and performance. As the arm swings, the sling holding the eraser slides off the hook and the erasers kinetic energy causes it to fly through the air as a projectile. April 18th, 2018 - How To Make A Mini Trebuchet Out Of Popsicle Sticks The Trebuchet Is A Medieval Device Not Unlike A Catapult That Was Used In Warfare To Hurl Damaging Object' 'Catapult Design Lesson Plan People April 24th, 2018 - Catapult Design Lesson Plan Catapult Design As They Will Be Tweaking The Distance The Rubber Band Will Be Which . When you pull down on the eraser, this causes the battery to lift up in the air, giving it (gravitational) potential energy. If you want to build your own trebuchet, first cut and sand the frame pieces and the swing arm. We also worked on and completed our new physics assessment. Look at the picture and you will get an idea. http://www.stormthecastle.com/trebuchet/how-to-make-a-trebuchet-out-of-popsicle-sticks.htm This site helped us make the model of our trebuchet from popsicle sticks, and we actually used their measurements on a greater scale to make our larger project. Electrical Tape 5. Home K-12 Outreach Hands-On Engineering Activity: Build A Mini Trebuchet. References :) Cut a small section of milk shake straw, about one inch long. Step 6: Catapult Directions Know About Life. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We used a rock as our counterweight. , but not quite, straight. Reinforce the connections with glue, tape and some extra popsicle stick pieces if necessary so they remain standing on their own. My passion is physics and mechanics and I want to be a Mechanical Engineer in the future. I actually used washers. Instructions Take 5 sticks and stack them, securing one end with a rubber band. Also, stand or sit to the side when launching projectiles with it. This will serve as a hook to hold the sling, which in turn holds the projectile. Pinterest. This will hold your projectile. Make a simple desktop catapult using popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Today I finished CAPA. Think of this as an engineering design projectthere is no single "right answer" or correct way to build the trebuchet. 9. The tuning section gave us a ton of advice on how to fix problems and adjust our range. More to explore Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Get ready to build your own! The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. Handout is turned in on time and completed. Stick the ends of the A-frame pieces into the slots. Trebuchets are superior to catapults, balistias, and all other siege weapons invented in its era. The triangle spikes, which serve to keep the triangle from slipping when it hits the ground, are most visible in the front and side views. Then, making sure no people, animals or breakable objects are nearby, let go. (We do not recommend using glue for this stepthat way you can remove the crossbar and swap out the arm to make changes.). For example, you could decide to build the entire frame out of pencils instead of popsicle sticks and you can choose whether you want to use tape, glue, or rubber bands to secure the different joints. Slide the pencil into the milk shake straw. Use electrical tape and tie it on either side of the pencil so that the pencil cannot come out of the washer. Fun with learning. Eye Hooks Add Tip How to Make a Popsicle Stick Mini Trebuchet. Popsicle Stick Trebuchet Analysis Questions. When printing this document, you may NOT modify it in any way. Step 11: Punch a hole in this stick halfway through. 2. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The straw should be much closer to the counterweight than it is to the hook. Simply pull down the arm Then let go! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 398,555 times. Tip Now it is time to test your trebuchet. Copyright 2002-2023 Science Buddies. If any of the joints seem weak or the frame wobbles significantly, reinforce them with tape, glue, or rubber bands. Super Glue This catapult worked by storing elastic potential energythe type of energy you get from stretching something such as a rubber band or a springand rapidly converting it to kinetic energy (the energy of motion) of a projectile (in that case a cotton ball). Step 1: Parts of the Walking Arm Trebuchet These diagrams show the names I will be using for the trebuchet parts in the following steps. Use your scissors to add small pieces of wood from the Popsicle stick to fortify the throwing arm. Final product must collapse to fit a 38 cm x 30 cm x 25 cm (15 in. Trebuchet is another type of catapult uses gravity to launch or throw a projectile. 3 Ways to Build a Basic Catapult wikiHow. Try changing the length of the lever arm. Then the counterweight is allowed to fall, rotating the lever arm and converting that potential into kinetic energy in the projectile, which is flung through the air. This should raise the counterweight up in the air. The area you notched will help keep the rubber band in place Student: Use rubber bands to attach the spoon or bottle cap to the popsicle stick. 8. Thanks for reading Scientific American. If your trebuchet is small enough, you can launch the projectile by sharply pulling down on the short end of the swing arm instead of using a counterweight. There is a pin to hold it in place, and it's attached to a string you pull to launch the trebuchet. For example, you could decide to build the entire frame out of pencils instead of popsicle sticks and you can choose whether you want to use tape, glue, or rubber bands to secure the different joints. A trebuchet was a weapon used in medieval times to hurl stones and boulders at castle walls. A trebuchet relies on gravitational potential energythe type of energy you get by raising something up off the ground. Don't get discouraged if at first your trebuchet launches the eraser straight up in the air or fails to release it at all. Popsicle sticks are made from wood, and the glue you need on wood needs to be sturdy and long-lasting. You can go through the step 1 of first method and follow the same. Glue one popsicle stick to one of the points of the triangle and glue the other end to where it bisects the opposing side. Heather Sheridan P.E., PMP is a Civil Engineer and Project Manager at Black & Veatch in the Hydropower Department. 5. In the counterpoise style of trebuchet[1] Conservation of energy. Assemble all your materials in a location that is open and clear of people, animals or breakable objects so that you can test your trebuchet. This hands-on catapult building activity can be modified in a million ways and tested with different projectiles for distance and weight! Note: There is more than one way to build the trebuchet described in this project. The straw should be much closer to the counterweight than it is to the hook. In Deo Confido Once more into the fray Into the last good fight I'll ever know Live and die on this day Live and die on this day "I am building a trebuchet for a class in my school and was wondering how to make the sling.". Background Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Make sure that the tape is wounded several times across the pencil until it makes a stack wide enough to prevent the pencil from slipping out of any edge. Powerful Popsicle Stick Catapult Gather some wide craft sticks, a bamboo skewer, some popsicle sticks, a hot glue gun, and straw. Hi Guys :) Please rate this Instructable and follow me if you liked it. The V notches that you cut help to keep the rubber band in place. Repeat until you have nine sets of tripled popsicle sticks. Event scoring is based on distance and accuracy. Now it is time to test your trebuchet. We're making a miniature popsicle stick catapult that seriously works great. For a tabletop trebuchet, you may want to attach a piece of posterboard or cardboard to the bottom of the frame to protect the surface the trebuchet rests on when firing it. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. Attach the remaining flat part of the paper clip to the other end of the popsicle stick, with the straightened part pointing outward and up (away from the counterweight). This catapult works by storing elastic potential energythe type of energy you get from stretching something such as a rubber band or a springand rapidly converting it to kinetic energy (the energy of motion) of a projectile (in that case a cotton ball). Place a projectile in the box and FIRE AWAY!! In the Middle Ages armies would use them to hurl stones at castle walls. A trebuchet. Think of this as an engineering design projectthere is no single right answer or correct way to build the trebuchet. 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Assemble the base and the support braces, then attach the uprights and braces to the base pieces. Make a lolly or popsicle stick catapult Mum In The Madhouse May 1st, 2018 - How to make a lolly or popsicle stick catapult from materials that you have at home This is a fun science activity for kids Popsicle Stick Catapult Free Kids Crafts May 2nd, 2018 - This Popsicle Stick Catapult was created by one of cur contest winners Why not submit . Now you might need to tinker with your trebuchet in order to get the best launch. The straw and pencil form a pivot and should allow the arm to rotate. Repeat this layering until you have two layers. It is okay if the eraser is resting on the ground and there is slack in the sling. What happens if you use something other than an eraser, such as a small balled up piece of paper. All Togetheris the blog of the Society of Women Engineers. Kinetic energy This would be amazingly strong for its size and still be quite easy to build. You can find this page online at: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/pencil-trebuchet. (I used coins See step 10 on how to make a counter weight) These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This item does not include instructions for students on how to . Three cross pieces. The tuning section gave us a ton of advice on how to fix problems and adjust our range. Thank you. Flip over the stack so that the stick you pushed through is now on the bottom Parent: Lay the second notched stick on top of the popsicle stack and wrap a rubber band around the two popsicle sticks. 10. :) If you liked this Instructable, please follow me. Step 2: Prepare the Arm Make the arm from the 1/2" x 3" x 36" pine board. Did you know about an even bigger type of medieval siege weapon called a trebuchet? Take 4-5 sticks and stack them together, using a Advertisement Video of the Day Step 1 Place two popsicle sticks together, end-to-end. A trebuchet has a lever arm with a large, heavy counterweight on one end and a smaller projectile on the other end. It relies on gravitational potential energythe type of energy you get by raising something up off the ground. They can use a counterweight to launch a 90 kg projectile over 300 meters. This will help hold your counterweight in place. Could you add a picture of the screw eye you used? Step 4: I love how you did this with popsicle sticks! A piece of rebar would make the strongest axle, but you can also use a screwdriver blade or the axle from a wheeled garbage can. Does it fail to release at all? But did you know about an even bigger type of medieval siege weapon called a trebuchet? Reply Build a Catapult Scientific American. Today. Aug 18, 2014 - Explore Tyson Moss's board "Physics 30 Trebuchet" on Pinterest. Easy DIY Instructions on Making a Popsicle Stick Catapult. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Not screw eyes. Washers? We hope to restring all the weights and possibly put a new nail in before doing our final test tomorrow. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Place another stick above and one below the stack of 7 so they make a cross shape. But I didn't use them in my model. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Pinterest. Youll need 2 long base pieces, 2 uprights about the same length as the base pieces, and 3 cross braces the width of the trebuchet, and 4 support braces for the uprights. Hang the eraser from the paper clip hook. 3 Ways to Build a Basic Catapult wikiHow. What if you glue multiple popsicle sticks together to make a longer arm? Step 7: Yeah you can use screw eyes there. Learn to create and animate the best siege engine from scratch, by implementing Rigidbody Physics, Rigidbody Constraints, and a Cloth Simulation. Mini Marshmallow Catapult with popsicle sticks rubber. What makes it go the farthest? How to Make a Mini Trebuchet out of Popsicle Sticks. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Popsicle Stick Catapult Teach With Fergy. Hang the eraser from the paper clip hook. Fun! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Build-a-Trebuchet-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Trebuchet-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Build-a-Trebuchet-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid4325264-v4-728px-Build-a-Trebuchet-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"