Name: Samantha Simmon Date: 4/21/20
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,
gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, launch angle, payload, projectile,
siege engine, torque
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.
Prong angle 0° 20° 40° 60° 80°
Launch angle 72.71 57.76 41.10 21.76 1.82
Initial speed 41.36 41.88 41.47 40.99 41.08
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
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
https://www.coursehero.com/file/108335398/Copy-of-TrebuchetSEdocx/
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,
gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, launch angle, payload, projectile,
siege engine, torque
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.
Prong angle 0° 20° 40° 60° 80°
Launch angle 72.71 57.76 41.10 21.76 1.82
Initial speed 41.36 41.88 41.47 40.99 41.08
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
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
https://www.coursehero.com/file/108335398/Copy-of-TrebuchetSEdocx/
