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Da Vinci Catapult Lab Report

Sofia Cordova, Alex Pizano & Jennifer Lopez

12.6.2017
A.2 Abstract:
In our experiment, we built a Da Vinci catapult with the dimensions: .5m in length,
width, and height. It would to be launched 1.5 meters away from a 1 meter wall. A 51 gram
tennis ball was launched with the tension created by a string that was wrapped around a wood
dowel and two flexible wood pieces. The tennis ball fell 20cm from the wall and remained about
0.37 seconds in the air. We conducted 4 trials. The tennis ball was launched over a meter high,
but it did not go far enough to clear the wall. In the future, we will use a smaller dowel in order
to increase the amount of string that is reeled in which will result in an increase in tension. We
will also stop the gear at an angle so the ball is projected at a better angle.

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A.3 Table of Contents:

Introduction…………………………………………………...3

Methods……………………………………………………...4-5

Results/Fails………………………………………………... 5-6

Discussion…………………………………………………... 6

References………………………………………………….. 7

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A.4 Introduction:
Introduction:
The word catapult is derived from greek from Greek katapeltes, from kata "against" in
reference to walls and how a catapult would go against walls. The original catapult was built in
400 BCE by Dionysius the Elder of Syracuse. The first catapults were attempts to increase the
range and power of a crossbow. Across the globe walls of castles and cities were getting taller so
in order for a town to be seized there needed to be a new tactic and weapon. Thus the catapult
was adapted to help overtake a town. The catapult in it’s various forms became an integral part
of medieval warfare. Catapults were used by the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and various other
Europeans. The Romans first adopted the onager that threw stones with a one-armed sling and
was mainly used to fire projectiles during warfare. The Chinese used a traction catapult during
warfare to destroy towers, walls, and to break up battle formations. Catapults in China can be
traced back to the period of the warring states. Walls rose even more as the usage of the catapult
increased so that they could avoid siege. So then catapults were also used to destroy walls.
Catapults were very hard to operate due to their large size and it took many people that all
needed training in order to load and release one. Fire, boulders, arrows, and more were released
from catapults. As time went on the catapult became more portable, easier to use, and many
more variations resulted from this. One of the types of catapults the trebuchet can launch a 90 kg
projectile 300m and in modern years has become a popular meme. Another type of catapult is
the Davinci catapult that was made in the 1480s by Leonardo Davinci. Overall, the catapult has
seen many versions and revolutionized warfare. Through this experiment, we were able to learn
𝛥𝑥
how a Davinci catapult functions. We used the equation V=𝑥𝑥 to calculate the average velocity
of the tennis ball with respect to time.

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Purpose: The reason for this experiment was to actively see and use potential energy to kinetic
energy. The potential energy caused by the trigger and the kinetic energy through the
release/movement of the tennis ball.

Governing equations:
General Velocity: V=D/T
The initial velocity of an object is the distance (𝑥) that the object travels over time (𝑥) in a given
direction.
2. Horizontal Velocity: v= 𝑥/𝑥
Horizontal velocity is the constant velocity (𝑥𝑥 ) of an object on a horizontal plane after it is
launched at an angle (𝛩).
3. Vertical Velocity: 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑣𝑣 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣
Vertical velocity is the constant velocity (𝑥𝑥 ) of an object on a vertical plane after it is launched
at an angle (𝛩).
4. Gravitational Potential Energy:𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥ℎ
Gravitational potential energy is the amount of energy needed for an object with a certain mass
(𝑥) and at a certain height (ℎ), to not be influenced by the gravitational acceleration (𝑥).
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5. Kinetic Energy: 𝑥𝑥 = 2 𝑥𝑥2
The kinetic energy is the amount of energy in motion that the object has or could potentially
have.

A.5 Methods:
51 gram ball was placed onto a self designed catapult that exceeded no more than 50 cm
in length, width, and height. It was fired a total of 4 times to clear a 1m wall from a distance of
1.5m away. Data of the distance the ball travel from the wall was to be recorded. This data was
used to then calculate the time that your ball traveled/was in the air.

Equipment/Materials:
-Saw
-Miter box
-Drill
-Cog
-Wood
-String
-Hot glue
-Paint
-Books
-Hammer
-Small dowels

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-Meter stick
-Care Bears
-Styrofoam
-51 gram tennis ball

Procedure: The tennis ball was placed on the styrofoam. The trigger was placed against the cog
after it was loaded and then it was released. At each release we were prepared to measure the
distance from the wall it went.

A.6 Results:
We placed our catapult on top of three textbooks 1.5m away from the 1m wall. The
catapult was placed at an incline which allowed it to meet the maximum height of .5 meters. As
we pulled the arm back, the cog turned and caused the dowel to wind the string in. At the same
time, the string pulled the flexible pieces of wood, at both ends of the catapult, inwards thus
creating tension. The cog was set in place by another piece of wood that had a string attached to
it (the trigger system). We then loaded the 51 gram tennis ball onto our arm. We pulled on the
string from the trigger which let go of the cog. The string unwinded and the created tension
allowed the arm to launch the ball forward. It remained in the air for about 0.37 seconds. Even if
the catapult launched with no problems for 4 trials, the ball kept falling about 20cm short from
the wall. Our observations concluded our catapult did launch the ball over 1m tall, however, it
was not able to go the 1.5m distance needed. Therefore, our catapult was not able to clear the
wall

*We used Kinri’s data since ours failed


Average distance from wall 3.81M

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1) Initial velocity: V=D/T
4.07/0.707
V= 5.75 m/s

2) Horizontal Velocity: v= 𝑥/𝑥


= 3.8/.94
V= 4.07 m/s

3) Vertical Velocity: 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑣𝑣 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣


= 4.07/1
V= 4.07 m/s
Angle equals 45 degrees

4) Gravitational Potential Energy:𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥ℎ


= (0.058)(9.81)(1.314)
= 0.747 J
5) Kinetic energy
a) Point of release 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥2 /2
= (0.058)(5.75)^2/2
= 0.959 J
b) At the top of trajectory 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥𝑥2 /2
=(0.058)(4.07)^2/2
= 0.48 J

A.7 Discussion:
The experiment left a bittersweet taste. From the start we were worried about two things:
our catapult not launching far enough and it not going high enough. We were able to overcome
the height problem and were able to launch with no problems which made us feel proud. It did
leave room for improvement and upon discussion we came to the following conclusions. A
smaller and thinner dowel would be more efficient because it allows for more string to be reeled
in and creates more tension. Our arm flung all the way down and hit the base. If we were to make
it stop at an angle, then the ball would be launched in a bigger arch. This would clear the wall
because the force of the arm wouldn’t take the ball with it, launching it at an angle straight to the
ground.

References:
http://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-technology/catapult-long-reaching-history-prominent-
medieval-siege-engine-004418

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http://www.midrealm.org/mkyouth/links/catapults.htm

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