A SHORT HISTORY
With a bit of research you'll discouver many more interesting facts.
The catapult has a storied and epic past dating back to ancient civilizations. First used by the Greeks around 399 BC, it was revolutionary in its ability to hurl heavy projectiles over long distances. The Romans and Chinese also adopted and improved upon the design.
Today, catapults like this one have evolved into educational tools and fun DIY projects that can be used to explore physics and engineering concepts. From ancient empires to your own home, catapults have certainly come a long way!
WHAT CAN YOU LEARN AS YOU PLAY ?
Take measurements, take notes and make drawing of the results.
Velocity: Discuss what velocity is. (The speed of an object plus the direction it is travelling.) Experiment with adjusting the number of rubber bands (between 1 and 3), then launching the ping pong balls to see how changing the energy force changes the velocity and distance.
Trajectory: Explain what trajectory is. (The curved path that an object follows after it's launched.) Adjust the launch angle of the catapult and notice how the changes affect the trajectory of the projectiles (ping pong balls). Try different angles and observe how the path changes.
Potential Energy: What is potential energy? (Energy that is stored and ready to be released.) Where is the potential energy for this catapult stored? (Rubber bands.) What device releases the stored energy? (Release Mechanism.) When the potential energy is released, where does it go? (Transferred into the projectile.) Experiment with one, two, and three bands to change the potential energy and observe the effects on the projectiles.
Path of the Projectile: Pick a launching place for the catapult in an open area and set up some targets (plastic bowls on the floor work well). Using what you've learned so far, anticipate the velocity, trajectory and potential energy needed to hit the targets. Adjust the catapult based on your predictions and let them fly. Try, try, and try some more to make learning fun.