Gizmo Trebuchet | Student Exploration: Trebuchet 2021 Student Exploration: Trebuchet
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: air resistance, counterweight, counterweight trebuchet, efficiency,
gravit...
Student Exploration: Trebuchet
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. During the Middle Ages, armies often attacked castles using large siege
engines such as the counterweight trebuchet at left. What challenges
might you face if you attacked a castle?
There are chances your weapon may break or you get injured
2. What are some ways to defend a castle against attack?
By building a strong base to protect the castle
Gizmo Warm-up
A counterweight trebuchet acts like a giant see-saw. Hanging
from the “short arm” of the beam is a heavy counterweight.
From the “long arm,” a sling holds the payload, usually a E D
rock. In the Trebuchet Gizmo, you can design your own
trebuchet to attack a city or castle.
1. From the Tools menu, drag the Help icon over each red B A
dot on the trebuchet to see the name of the part. Use F
letters to label each part on the diagram to the right.
A) Counterweight, B) payload, C) fulcrum, D) short arm,
E) long arm, F) sling, G) prong
2. Click Launch test. Describe the motion of a trebuchet. ✏ Either hand draw or click here to
EDIT to use the drawing tool.
The trebuchet swinged the sling slowly into the air.
, Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A: ● Click Reset. On the DESIGN tab, check that the
Counterweight is 4500 kg, Payload is 160 kg,
Trebuchet design Fulcrum is 9.0 m, Short arm is 3.0 m, Long arm
is 9.0 m, Sling is 5.0 m, and Prong angle is 40°.
Introduction: Once the payload is in the air, it is called a projectile. In this activity, you will see how each
dimension of the trebuchet affects the angle and speed of the projectile.
Question: How can you adjust the angle and speed of a projectile thrown by a trebuchet?
1. Test: Click Launch test. Look at the results displayed at lower right.
A. What is the initial angle of the launch. 4.98
The launch angle is measured from the horizon, as shown:
B. Which trebuchet dimensions do you think will have the biggest effect on the launch angle?
2. Experiment: While keeping all of the other settings the same, experiment with different sling lengths. You
can change the sling length by dragging the bottom of the sling, or by entering the desired length in the
Sling length text box. For each sling length, click Launch test and record the launch angle and initial
I think the counterweight will have the biggest effect on the launch angle
speed of the projectile. Click Reset between each test.
Sling length 5.0 m 6.0 m 7.0 m 8.0 m 9.0 m
Launch angle 4.96 19.72 31.16 37.76 41.20
Initial speed 31.05 34.31 37.87 40.51 41.47
3. Analyze: How does increasing the sling length affect the launch angle and initial speed of the projectile?
As the sling length increases, so does the launch speed and initial speed.
4. Experiment: You can change the angle of the prong by dragging its tip inside the circle or by entering the
desired angle in the Prong angle text box. Check that the Counterweight is 4500 kg, Payload is 160 kg,
Fulcrum is 9.0 m, Short arm is 3.0 m, Long arm is 9.0 m, and Sling length is 9.0 m. For each prong
angle, record the launch angle and initial speed.
5. Analyze: How does increasing the prong angle affect the launch angle and initial speed of the projectile?
This study source was downloaded by 100000831788613 from CourseHero.com on 09-29-2021 06:00:47 GMT -05:00
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Examhack. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $15.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
