Physics concepts of a trebuchet

[jbisel]

I need to be able to build a trebuchet,write a 15 page technical paper on it, and give a 5 minute speech on the different concepts of a trebuchet.

I have never taken physics being a biology kid myself. So therefore I know only very basic physics. I will of course need to do a lot of research... but if you were to list some of the more important things relating to a trebuchet to discuss, what would they be? Any help would be appreciated. This is for a Nationals competition.

 

[berkeman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebuchet is a good place to start.

You will also want to learn a bit about kinematic equations -- that's how you calculate the acceleration and motion of the mass based on the forces and torques applied.


Some of the equations and web pointers in this recent PF thread may help as well.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=151000

 

[m2003]

I am excited to hear that you will be building a trebuchet for a Nationals competition and writing a technical paper on it. Trebuchets are fascinating machines that have been used for centuries for various purposes, including warfare, agriculture, and entertainment. In order to successfully build a trebuchet and write a comprehensive technical paper, it is important to have a strong understanding of the physics concepts involved. In this response, I will provide an overview of some of the key physics concepts related to a trebuchet that you can research and discuss in your paper and speech.

1. Center of Mass: The center of mass is a crucial concept in the design and operation of a trebuchet. It is the point at which the entire mass of the trebuchet can be considered to be concentrated. In order to achieve maximum efficiency and accuracy, the center of mass of the trebuchet must be carefully calculated and positioned.

2. Levers: Trebuchets use the principle of levers to launch projectiles. A lever is a simple machine that consists of a rigid bar that can rotate around a fixed point called the fulcrum. In a trebuchet, the long arm of the lever is the throwing arm, while the short arm is the counterweight arm. The counterweight arm acts as the fulcrum, and when the throwing arm is released, it rotates around the counterweight arm to launch the projectile.

3. Torque: Torque is the measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate around an axis. In a trebuchet, the counterweight arm exerts a force on the throwing arm, causing it to rotate and launch the projectile. The amount of torque produced depends on the force of the counterweight and the length of the counterweight arm.

4. Projectile Motion: The motion of the projectile launched by a trebuchet follows the laws of projectile motion. These laws state that the horizontal and vertical components of a projectile's motion are independent of each other. This means that the projectile will travel in a curved path and will also experience a constant acceleration due to gravity.

5. Energy: Trebuchets convert potential energy into kinetic energy to launch projectiles. The potential energy comes from the counterweight, while the kinetic energy is transferred to the projectile upon launch. The amount of potential and kinetic energy involved in the launch can be calculated using physics equations.

6. Friction: Friction is an important concept to consider when