Table of Contents
How does force work on a catapult?
A catapult is a lever, a stick or beam propped up by a fulcrum (a pivoting point). A lever will magnify the force you put on it if the fulcrum (the pivoting point) is closer to your force than it is to the load. The larger the force, the farther the pompom goes.
How does a catapult relate to force and motion?
When you prepare the catapult to launch, you add energy to it. This energy is stored in the launching device as potential, or stored, energy. When you let go, this stored energy is released, converted into energy of motion and transferred to the missile (the launched object), which then flies through the air.
How do we use catapults today and what forces are used?
Catapults evolved from simple slingshots to siege weapons. Today, catapults can be used to launch airplanes from aircraft carriers, or to demonstrate physics and mathematics to students.
What factors affect the forces of a catapult?
What factors could affect a catapult?
- Distance from the fulcrum.
- Force behind launch.
- Today’s Objective:
- Weight of the Projectile.
- Angle of Release (pull back)
- pullback = launch time.
- Durability of Construction.
- Accuracy vs. Precision.
What force is used when a catapult is pulled back?
Tension is effectively the opposite of compression. The angle at which the throwing arm is pulled back to will affect both the distance the projectile will travel and also the height that it reaches when in the air.
What makes a catapult stronger?
The cords should be attached to the front of the catapult and at the front of the catapult arm. When the arm is pulled back, the tension in the cord will pull the arm forward. This front-powered system will provide more power than rear-spring powered catapults.
What are the physics involved in a catapult?
A catapult relies on torque, which is a function of the length of the arm and the speed at which it moves, to provide angular momentum to the projectile..After the payload leaves the catapult, the only forces acting on it are gravity and wind resistance.
How does a catapult work to throw a pompom?
A catapult is a lever, a stick or beam propped up by a fulcrum (a pivoting point). A lever will magnify the force you put on it if the fulcrum (the pivoting point) is closer to your force than it is to the load. The catapult magnifies your force to throw a pompom in this activity. The larger the force, the farther the pompom goes.
Where is the pivot point of a catapult?
It is a part of the family of class three levers, where the fulcrum, or pivot point, of the lever is in the middle of the catapult and the load, or object the catapult is attempting to move, is at one end. The effort, or level of force, is applied to the end of the lever opposite the load in a catapult.
How does air resistance affect a catapult launch?
Air resistance accelerates the ball in the opposite direction of travel. In order to make a catapult useful, we will want to be able to predict where a projectile will land after launch. To do this, we need to calibrate the catapult. Calibration will take into account all accelerations (including air resistance).