Rubber Band Trebuchet

2 wood blocks 5 1 2 x 2 1 2 x 1 d e 3 wood dowels 3 16 x 2 1 2 a b c 1 balsa plank 3 4 x 1 2 x 7 f 1 8 32 x 5 bolt 1 8 32 nut 8 8 washers 1 4 screw eye hook 1 plastic egg shell orthodontic rubber band super glue tools.

Rubber band trebuchet.

Drill with bits wrenches rotary tool with bits clamps procedure. A trebuchet works differently. This catapult works by storing elastic potential energy the type of energy you get from stretching something such as a rubber band or a spring and rapidly converting it to kinetic energy the energy of motion of a projectile in that case a cotton ball. Tape the rubber band onto the stick about 1 inch below the paper cup.

I opted for rubber bands because they gave me better results with this particular trebuchet than weights and they are much more compact. Don t make the rubber band really tight. This catapult worked by storing elastic potential energy the type of energy you get from stretching something such as a rubber band or a spring and rapidly converting it to kinetic energy the. Rubber band trebuchet materials.

If it s too tight it will deform the hooks and if it s just snug you will actually get a little assist from the rubber. The trebuchet is a medieval device not unlike a catapult that was used in warfare to hurl damaging objects from afar into areas that were otherwise inaccessible such as over castle walls and into forts. You want the rubber band to wrap on the side without the wire back and forth.