How To Build A Catapult For School?

26.04.2023 Grady A. Lowry 0 Comments

Directions: – Remember, we are going to use the engineering design process we mentioned above as a guide for making our catapult. So, let’s look at the six steps:

ASK: Our task is to make a catapult using the materials we have on hand, but how will we do this? 

IMAGINE: What do catapults look like? How have people made them with household materials? PLAN:  Choose just a couple of your best ideas to sketch out in more detail and decide on which one you want to make. CREATE:  Build your catapult based on your plan. TEST:  Test your design to see how well it works. How far and how accurately can your catapult fire the projectile? What parts are working well, and what could use tinkering? IMPROVE:  Based on your test results, what about your design could be improved and why? What might you change to make it better? Let’s build a second version!

Once you’ve gone through all six steps, the process begins again at the beginning. Keep going through the cycle until you are satisfied with your design. There are numerous ways to make a catapult using materials found at home and we encourage you to try different ways. Simple craft stick catapult:

Stack five craft sticks together and wrap a rubber band around each end Stack two craft sticks and wrap a rubber band around only one end Slide the five sticks in-between the two sticks, as shown Wrap a rubber band where the two sections meet to hold the catapult together Attach a bottle cap to the top stick to hold the projectile Place a projectile (mini-marshmallow, small ball of paper, etc.) in the cap, hold the stick down, and release!

Here are some other designs to consider as you make your own:
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Contents

0.1 How do you make a catapult for kids?

1 What is the best design for a catapult?
2 What are 5 types of catapults?
3 What makes a catapult work for kids?

How do you make a catapult for kids?

Directions: – Remember, we are going to use the engineering design process we mentioned above as a guide for making our catapult. So, let’s look at the six steps:

ASK: Our task is to make a catapult using the materials we have on hand, but how will we do this? 

Here are some other designs to consider as you make your own:
View complete answer

What is the best design for a catapult?

The Trebuchet was one of the more accurate and efficient types of catapult used in ancient times. It worked by using the energy of a falling counterweight to rotate a beam around a pivot resulting in the release of whatever projectile was loaded into the sling at the other end of the beam.
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What are 5 types of catapults?

There are five historical types of catapults: the mangonel, onager, ballista and trebuchet, using three types of motive force: tension, torsion and gravity. Torsion Powered Catapults Mangonel Side view of a torsion powered mangonel catapult in the cocked position.
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What makes a catapult work for kids?

How It Works – A catapult works like a lever, which is a simple machine. When you push down on one end of the lever and then let go, it changes the direction of the force and pushes the marshmallow in the opposite direction. Levers are used all around us. For example, a seesaw is a lever and so is a pair of scissors!
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What are the parts of a catapult for kids?

catapult Catapults were important weapons of before guns and cannons were invented. A catapult was a simple machine. It was used to throw heavy objects at the enemy with great force. There were several different forms of catapult. The most basic type was made up of a long wooden arm with a large cup on the end.

Attached to the arm was a rotating tube, called a winch.
A rope was fastened to the arm and wound around the winch.
At the base of the arm was a set of cords.
To set the catapult, soldiers tightened the rope by winding the winch.
This caused the cords at the base of the arm to twist and get tighter and tighter.

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The soldiers loaded the cup with a large rock or other objects. Then they released the rope. The cords around the base untwisted all at once. The arm then swung forward, flinging the load. A large catapult could hurl a stone as far as 1,500 feet (460 meters).

Soldiers often used catapults to destroy walls. They usually needed more than one catapult for a successful attack on a castle. Soldiers also used catapults to fling spears at an advancing army. Armies used large and small catapults. They wheeled small catapults with them to battles. Carpenters traveling with armies often built catapults on the way to a battle.

Larger catapults usually stayed in one place. People living in cities and castles used such large catapults to defend themselves. The earliest catapults appeared during the 1200s bce, The ancient Romans improved the catapult and made catapults on wheels.
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What are the 4 types of catapult?

The main types of catapults used were the trebuchet, mangonel, onager, and ballista.
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What is the strongest shape for a catapult?

Download Article Download Article The strength of a catapult could refer either to the sturdiness of the catapult frame and its ability to withstand use, or it could refer to the force with which the catapult launches projectiles. However, knowing how to build the frame of your catapult can actually help you understand how to build a sturdier machine and launch a projectile farther with even greater force.

1 Gather the materials. To ensure you build the best and safest catapult, find durable and strong materials to withstand the extreme forces your catapult will use when shooting objects. There are a great many materials you could use in the construction of your catapult, but at minimum you will need:
- Broomstick or crank
- Padding
- Plywood (1/4″ to 1/2″ thick, 15″ by 18 and 1/2″)
- Rope (strong, stretchy preferred,like kernmantle rope)
- Screws or bolts
- Weights (optional)
- Wood (preferably non-flexible, like oak wood)
  - If using 2×4 planks collect: two pieces at 36″, one piece at 30″, four pieces at 15″, and one piece at 18″
2 Contemplate base and weights. Since your catapult utilizes such powerful forces to eject its payload, you will need a strong and sturdy platform for launching as well as a strong and stable foundation. Poor foundation can throw off your aim or cause your catapult to fail.
- Torsion catapults, which is the technical name for a normal catapult, have historically been built with heavy, reinforced sides, as these would allow for heavier payload, greater tensile force, and greater stability.
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3 Cut your plywood supports. For the base of this catapult, you will use a 2×4 base supported with plywood triangles. To prepare your plywood supports, take one rectangular piece of plywood 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick, 15″ by 18 and 1/2″, and cut it diagonally into two equal triangles.
4 Choose the right material for your throwing arm. Traditionally, spruce or fir wood were used for the throwing arm, as these woods were light and strong. Consult your local lumberyard to see if these are an affordable option and, if not, ask for some alternatives, two of which follow:
- Thick PVC pipe
- Metal pipe (lightweight, durable)
5 Cut your torsion handles. You will need rope torsion to provide the launching force for your catapult. The more twists, the greater the torque, the more power your catapult will have. The amount of torsion (twisting) you can achieve is limited only by your strength and the strength of the materials you’ve used in making your catapult. To make your torsion handles, take a broomstick and cut into two 15 inch segments.

1 Lay out the right side of your base. Position your 36″ 2×4 flat, longways on your workbench or another suitable sturdy surface. Place your 18″ 2×4 at a right angle to your 36″ piece at 15″ from the end of the 36″ piece and screw them into place.
2 Attach your plywood triangle. Place it atop your 2×4 planks. The 18″ side of your plywood will be vertical to your 36″ plank, its base parallel with the 36″ plank, and its diagonal will approximately span the distance between the two ends each 2×4 plank. Screw down your triangle securely to your 2x4s. This forms one base leg of your catapult.
3 Lay out the left side of your base and affix your other triangular plywood piece. In the same fashion you constructed the right side, put your 36″ and 18″ 2×4 planks at a right angle 15″ from the end of the long piece, and screw your triangular plywood piece into place atop the two 2×4 planks, with the base parallel to the 36″ 2×4.
4 Connect the left and right sides of the base. Using your two 15″ long 2×4 planks, screw your left and right side, with the base of your triangle and base of your 36″ 2×4 forming the bottom, leaving the hypotenuse (the diagonal) facing up. Use long screws to ensure your frame is sturdy.
- Do not use nails for this part of your frame. Nails are sensitive to the stress your catapult will exert, and could come loose over time.

1 Turn your base right-side up. Now that you have your frame constructed, you will begin working on constructing the throwing arm. The top side of your catapult will have the 18″ vertical boards pointing straight up, and your 36″ boards laying flat edgewise.
2 Screw in a cross brace between the sides. At the topmost point of your 18″ vertical boards, screw in another 18″ piece between the two to form the cross brace of your catapult. The top of your cross brace should be level with the top of your vertical 18″ 2×4 boards.
3 Prepare the arm. Take your 30″ 2×4 and measure 2.5″ from one end. Drill a 1/2″ centered hole clear on the narrow side of the board through the entire width of the 2×4.
4 Attach a cup or launching basket. Screw a plastic cup to the center of the flat side of your 2×4. This should also be the opposite side from where you drilled a hole through the short side of your 2×4. Feel free to experiment with other materials and holding devices, like baskets, bowls, and cases.
5 Drill a hole in the base. Drill a 1″ hole in each side of the base into the end with your triangular support. This hole will need to be centered 6″ from the end of the 36″ piece where the end of your plywood triangle should also end. Then measure 2.5″ up from the bottom edge of the device and drill.
6 Pad the arm. The arm of your catapult operates by being pulled or winched back after applying tension to the rope that will be laced through the frame. Where the throwing arm of your catapult meets your cross brace, it’s a good idea to add padding, like a blanket or several layers of wrapped rags. This will prevent your catapult from doing damage to itself when the arm is pulled back, released, and comes in contact with the cross brace.

1 Lace the rope. You will need about 20′ of rope to complete the lacing process. Tie the rope around your broomstick handle, then take it through the hole in the right side of the base, through the hole you drilled in the arm of the catapult, out the opposite side of the base and back out to your second broomstick handle.
- When choosing rope, look for strong material that has some stretch to it. Kernmantle rope, like parachute cord, is an excellent option.
- Take your cord back and forth through the frame and arm several times to ensure your rope is securely fastened to the frame.
- While lacing, don’t worry about keeping the rope tight. When you turn your handles, you will tighten the rope and apply launching force.
2 Use an over under motion to complete lacing. After you have run your cord through the base of your catapult and throwing arm several times to secure it to the frame and arm, starting with your second handle, bring the end of your cord around the second handle in a loop that passes through the hole in your frame and under the throwing arm, passing through to the hole on the other side to loop around your first handle.
- This should form a figure eight shape with your rope where you can clearly see the rope twisting together. The more twists you add through your over and under motion, the more tension and greater force your catapult will have.
- After securing your rope to arm and frame, you should not continue threading your line through the throwing arm. To achieve the tension necessary to throw a projectile, you must finish lacing by going through the frame holes, around the broom handles in loops, and over and under the throwing arm.
- Make sure your loops stay anchored around your broom handles.
3 Knot the end of your cord to the side of the arm. When you are reaching the end of your rope, wrap it around the strings to one side of your catapult, then cross over and do the same on the other side. Now you can knot the end of your cord, ensuring it won’t come lose with the added benefit of keeping your rope orderly.
4 Add a catch for your throwing arm. As you twist your handles, the torsion of the rope will cause your throwing arm to ascend until its tension holds it against the cross brace. First allow your arm to rest fully back in the launching position and judge where to best install your catch, then drill a hole and insert your hook.
- By installing a catch to the rear of your frame, you won’t have to pull the arm back to launch your payload. Simply release the catch after applying tension, and your arm will spring forward, stopping at the cross brace and launching your payload.
5 Arm your catapult and apply torsion. Your handles should now be off to each side of your catapult base, parallel to your 36″ pieces and attached to the frame and throwing arm by rope. Turn the handles to create torsion in the rope. This will give the catapult tension, simply add a payload to your cup, wind your broomstick cranks, release your catch and fire.

Add New Question

Question Can I make this catapult on a smaller scale? Yes, as long as you use similar proportions. Keep in mind that a smaller catapult will not be very strong, nor will it be able to throw as far.
Question Can I use rubber bands as a substitute for the rope? It is not recommended. The (slightly flexible) rope is good for strength and support. It gives the catapult momentum when it is tightly coiled.
Question What is needed to make a catapult capable of throwing more weight? Stronger stature and a stronger material to pull back the arm of the catapult.

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Triangles are excellent supporting shapes to reinforce your catapult. The strongest are equilateral triangles so if you make the catapult and it is unstable, add triangular support.
Make the angle of the arm to the ground at release of projectile equal to 45 degrees unless it is released above the ground. For example, if the projectile is released at 1 meter (3.3 ft) off the ground, the optimum angle is 44.6 degrees. The optimal angle decreases as the height of the catapult increases.
Forget trying to build a catapult and build a trebuchet instead, as it is the superior siege engine and can launch 90 kilogram projectiles over 300 meters using a counterweight.

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Store this device in a safe place; children playing with a catapult without supervision could harm themselves or others.
Keep your face out of the swing of the arm of the catapult

2x4s: two pieces at 36″, one piece at 30″, four pieces at 15″, and one piece at 18″.
Rectangular piece of plywood: 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick, 15″ by 18 and 1/2″, cut diagonally into two equal triangles.
Broomstick cut into two 15 inch segments (for rope)
Hook or clasp (for arm)
Hammer
Drill (with assorted bits)
Rope (strong, stretchy preferred, like kernmantle rope)
Screwdriver
Screws (two and a half inch long, suggested)
Weights (optional)

Article Summary X To build a strong catapult, build a base supported with plywood triangles, with a cross brace at the top. Attach a launching basket to the throwing arm, and attach the arm to the base at one end with a long piece of rope that is wrapped through the frame and around the arm in an over-under-over pattern.
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Is a longer arm better on a catapult?

Overall, as the arm length of the catapult increased, the ball was thrown farther. My hypothesis was that a ball being thrown from a catapult, will travel a farther distance if it is thrown using a longer arm. This hypothesis was correct.
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What is a Class 3 catapult?

Project Snapshot – A class 3 lever puts the load on one end, the fulcrum on the other, and the effort somewhere in between. This project illustrates this fundamental tool while also delivering some high-flying projectiles! Click to expand
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How far can a catapult shoot?

Catapults can launch things a fair distance – 500 to 1,000 feet (150 to 300 meters) is common. It is surprising how much energy they can store. The gears are important, because they create a winch.
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Are catapults banned?

‘Make carrying a catapult a criminal offence’ The use of catapults to target windows, people and animals has become so prevalent in one part of the county that a campaign is under way to make carrying them illegal. Ashford has been plagued by the problem for years, seeing it Neighbourhood Watch volunteer Peter New launched the campaign this week

Now one resident is so fed up with the continual amount of damage being caused that he is encouraging others to sign his petition calling on them to be outlawed.
Neighbourhood Watch volunteer Peter New says he wants carrying a catapult to become a criminal offence to help police tackle the issue.
“This has been constant – we are not looking at something that has been suddenly dropped on us,” he said.

“The situation has been growing and growing. “Pensioners, vulnerable and working people are having their windows shot out, their cars damaged or worse. Three catapults were seized by police in May of last year. Photo: Kent Police “We’re seeing animals killed, runners and delivery drivers fired at. Something has to be done, because it’s so hard for the police to do anything about it. “The law does not give police the right powers in the same way it would do with a knife.” Mr New, a retired firefighter, started the campaign in the wake of a series of incidents over the last few months.

“The community has been bubbling along for at least four years now over this – dates and times of incidents start to merge into one,” he added.
“But recently we have seen so much, and a lot of people don’t report it to the police so we may never know just how bad it is.
“These stones, they can hit you out of nowhere and you may not even see where they came from.
“If they hit you in the wrong place, they could blind you, or if they were to go through a car window it could cause a crash which could be so much worse.”
It is not currently illegal to own or carry a catapult and action can be taken only if a solid link between the carrier and a crime can be established.
The petition seeks to make it illegal to carry a catapult unless it can be proved it is for a legitimate reason, such as firing bait into a lake for fishing.
In response to the ongoing concerns in the town, Inspector Simon Johnson of the Ashford Community Safety Unit said: “When reports of incidents involving catapults are made to police, they are taken seriously as we appreciate how concerning they can be for residents.

Three teenagers were spotted ‘torturing’ a squirrel in Ashford after coaxing it out of a tree with a catapult. Picture: Deb Sharpe “Those who use catapults to cause criminal damage or risk public safety can expect our officers to take action against them.

“We have a number of powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, these include community protection warnings and criminal behaviour orders.”
Insp Johnson said officers would focus on encouraging younger offenders to do something good for the community rather than punishment.
“To help us continue to tackle anti-social behaviour in Ashford, it is important that anyone who has information regarding such incidents report it us on 101 or via our online reporting on our website,” he added.
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“We understand people might only post such information on social media but we urge anyone who sees a person with a catapult or who has stones taken from their driveway, to let officers know as soon as possible so we can take action to reduce anti-social behaviour.” To sign the petition,, : ‘Make carrying a catapult a criminal offence’
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Grady A. Lowry