Catapults
What does a catapult do?
It throws objects
What does a trebuchet throw?
Historically large stones, in this class small objects
What do engineers do?
Solve problems and design things
Were trebuchets used in the Middle Ages?
yes
What part of a catapult swings to launch an object?
The arm
What heavy part helps a traditional trebuchet launch objects?
The counterweight
What does it mean to test a design?
Try to see how well it works.
What large structures were trebuchets sometimes used to attack?
Castle walls
What happens when you release a pulled-back catapult arm?
It swings forward
What happens when the counterweight falls?
It makes the throwing arm swing
What can engineers do if their design doesn't work well?
Change the design, and try again
What do we call a person who designs machines and solves engineering problems?
An engineer
Name something a small model catapult could launch safely.
A pom pom, marshmallow, and many more
Were trebuchets used hundreds of years ago or invented last year?
Hundreds of years ago
Why does a throwing machine need a strong base?
What is a model? A smaller copy of something or the real thing itself?
A smaller copy
What can you change to test how far a catapult throws?
The arm length, launch angle, or stored energy
What is one difference between a trebuchet and a catapult?
Trebuchets use counterweights while catapults don't
Why should engineers test a design more than once?
To compare results and choose the best one
What is one thing modern students can learn by building a catapult model?
Forces, energy, motion, or engineering design!