A catapult is a simple machine that uses stored energy, like a spring or rubber band, to fling or launch things through the air.
Materials needed to make this catapult:
- 2 Large Craft Sticks
- 8-10 Small Craft Sticks
- 3 Rubber Bands
- Something to fling!
To understand how a catapult works, here are some important ideas to think about:
Force and Energy
A catapult needs energy to launch something. When you push down on the catapult arm, it stores energy. Once you let go, all that stored energy is released at once, making the arm move quickly and launching the object! The more energy you store, the farther the object will go. Try changing the number of craft sticks in your stack and see how that affects how far your object flies.
Levers
A catapult is like a lever, which is a simple tool that helps move things. When you push down on one end of the lever and then let go, it changes the direction of the force and pushes your launch object in the opposite direction.
Gravity
After your object is launched, gravity pulls it back down to the ground. Engineers think about how high and far it will go before gravity takes over.
Angles
The angle of the catapult arm is super important! A good angle can make your object fly higher and farther.
Materials
You need strong but bendy materials to build a catapult that won’t break when it launches something. This helps the catapult last longer and work better!
All these ideas work together to make a catapult that’s fun and powerful!