THE CATAPULT PROJECT for General Physics
A catapult is a mechanism used to throw missiles in ancient and medieval warfare. At first, catapults were
specifically designed to shoot spears or other missiles at a low trajectory. They were originally distinguished
from ballistae and trebuchets, both of which were large military engines used to hurl stones and other
missiles, but these distinctions later blurred. Soon after, larger catapults mounted on a single arm also hurled
stones, pots of boiling oil, and incendiaries at a high trajectory. They were used to attack or defend
fortifications. Catapults were widely employed in siege warfare, but with the introduction of artillery they
passed from use. In the 20th century catapults using hydraulic pressure were reintroduced to launch aircraft
from warships.
RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION:
Your final product will be a project report and the catapult launch at school.
OBJECTIVES:
The goal of the project is to increase your understanding of motion in two dimensions by building a catapult
to launch tennis balls and by collecting and analyzing your data.
ASSIGNMENT:
Each team must construct a catapult that can launch a tennis ball at various angles on a consistent basis. We will
have a launch day in class.
PROJECT REPORT:
Your typed report should include:
I.
Question Write a good testable question from the objective.
II.
Background Information
Write a minimum one page types, double spaced 12 font report on the history and building of a catapult.
Include a Works Cited at the end of the report. You are to begin immediately after the question and
continue on until you have a full page of information.
III.
Hypothesis
Write a hypothesis- example we will be able to build a catapult that…….
V.
Results
A. Data Collection from 3 trial launches
Make a data table to record your data from the trail launches.
Launch the tennis ball at three different angles recording in your data table
-date launched
- launching angle,
- range of flight,
- time of flight.
Attach pictures of each trial.
B. Data Analysis
Using the data that you have collected determine the following:
- the initial velocity of the release, initial horizontal and vertical components
- the time to the highest point
- the velocity of the ball upon impact
C. DIAGRAM: Include a vector diagram of the motion of the ball
VI.
Conclusion
Write a conclusion.
Requirements for the catapult
There is a size requirement of 50 cm X 50cm X 50 cm not including the arm. It must be adjustable to various
angles so that the tennis ball lands between 2 and 15 m. You must be at least 2 meters away from the catapult
when you release it. You will be graded on accuracy- how close you get to the target, and on precision - how
many times you get close to the target. I will set the target at the time of the launch.