Paper On Catapults
A catapult is a device in which accumulated tension is suddenly released to launch an object in a specified direction and distance. Catapults have been used for a long time. They were used as a deadly war weapon. Catapults were first used by the Greeks, Romans, and the Chinese. They were one of the most effective weapons in war. The first attempts at catapults were to increase the range and power of the crossbow. A Greek historian named Diodorus Siculus was the first to document the use of a mechanical arrow firing catapult in 399 BC. It was also known as the Ballista. Catapults were introduced to Europe during the Middle Ages. Catapults were introduced in England in 1216 during the Siege of Dover. The French crossed the channel and were
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the first to use the Catapults on English soil. With city walls becoming taller back in the day it made catapults an essential to have. Catapults were used to launch missiles and many different objects. They were either used to shoot at the wall to cause the most damage possible or were launched over the wall to lay siege on the people within the protective walls. Catapults were also used to throw missiles at soldiers. The first acts of Biological warfare involved catapults. (History of Catapults).
There are three different types of catapults used: the Ballista, the Mangonel, and the Trebuchet.
The Ballista is just a bigger version of a crossbow. The word Ballista comes from the Greek word “Ballistes” meaning throw. They were, believed to be, invented by the Greeks, and later modified by the Romans. The Ballista was built to amply to range and power of the crossbow and was the earliest catapult. The Mangonel is the catapult that most people think of. From the Latin word “manganon” meaning engine of war. The Mangonel was invented by the Romans in 400 BC. The Mangonel consists of a long wood arm with a bucket with a rope attached to the end. The arm is then pulled back then the energy was stored in the tension of the rope and the arm. Then the bucket would be loaded. When the arm would be released the arm would return to its equilibrium position when it hit the beam. The Mangonel fired projectiles in an overhead arc, the angle of the path of the projectile could be determined by a block placed on the beam that stopped the Mangonels arm, by using a block that stopped the arm earlier than 90 degree angle would result in a path angle equal to the angle between the arm and the 90 degree angle. It was capable of firing 1,300 ft. The Trebuchet comes from the ancient sling. It originated in China before the 4th century BC. It is a combination of simple machines. The Trebuchet uses a lever and is usually powered by the force of gravity. There is a heavy weight box
attached to the counterweight of the throwing arm. When fired, the weight box is allowed to fall and the gravity causes the throwing arm to rotate around the axle. The sling is affixed to end of the throwing arm. The sling contains the projectile. (History of Catapults).
The Mangonel catapult is the one most like the one that we made. The Mangonel was used in the medieval period to throw projectiles at castle walls. It was used to throw projectiles at a lower trajectory and a higher velocity, so that it would destroy walls. It was good for field battles. The Mangonel has a long wood arm with a bucket at the end. The arm is pulled back and then the bucket is loaded. The arm is released and it hits the beam and the projectile is released. It does not have the best accuracy, but it has speed and power. The Mangonel has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that it was practical. It would hurl anything from rocks to burning objects. It could be very light, so it is easy to move. It was simple, used less material, and had a greater range. The disadvantages include its inaccuracy and degraded materials. The range was determined by the weight of the projectile and the strength of the catapult. They used tension with ropes, and ropes lose their elasticity. Ropes and wood degrade. Another disadvantage is that they were slow and vulnerable. (All About Catapults).
the first to use the Catapults on English soil. With city walls becoming taller back in the day it made catapults an essential to have. Catapults were used to launch missiles and many different objects. They were either used to shoot at the wall to cause the most damage possible or were launched over the wall to lay siege on the people within the protective walls. Catapults were also used to throw missiles at soldiers. The first acts of Biological warfare involved catapults. (History of Catapults).
There are three different types of catapults used: the Ballista, the Mangonel, and the Trebuchet.
The Ballista is just a bigger version of a crossbow. The word Ballista comes from the Greek word “Ballistes” meaning throw. They were, believed to be, invented by the Greeks, and later modified by the Romans. The Ballista was built to amply to range and power of the crossbow and was the earliest catapult. The Mangonel is the catapult that most people think of. From the Latin word “manganon” meaning engine of war. The Mangonel was invented by the Romans in 400 BC. The Mangonel consists of a long wood arm with a bucket with a rope attached to the end. The arm is then pulled back then the energy was stored in the tension of the rope and the arm. Then the bucket would be loaded. When the arm would be released the arm would return to its equilibrium position when it hit the beam. The Mangonel fired projectiles in an overhead arc, the angle of the path of the projectile could be determined by a block placed on the beam that stopped the Mangonels arm, by using a block that stopped the arm earlier than 90 degree angle would result in a path angle equal to the angle between the arm and the 90 degree angle. It was capable of firing 1,300 ft. The Trebuchet comes from the ancient sling. It originated in China before the 4th century BC. It is a combination of simple machines. The Trebuchet uses a lever and is usually powered by the force of gravity. There is a heavy weight box
attached to the counterweight of the throwing arm. When fired, the weight box is allowed to fall and the gravity causes the throwing arm to rotate around the axle. The sling is affixed to end of the throwing arm. The sling contains the projectile. (History of Catapults).
The Mangonel catapult is the one most like the one that we made. The Mangonel was used in the medieval period to throw projectiles at castle walls. It was used to throw projectiles at a lower trajectory and a higher velocity, so that it would destroy walls. It was good for field battles. The Mangonel has a long wood arm with a bucket at the end. The arm is pulled back and then the bucket is loaded. The arm is released and it hits the beam and the projectile is released. It does not have the best accuracy, but it has speed and power. The Mangonel has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that it was practical. It would hurl anything from rocks to burning objects. It could be very light, so it is easy to move. It was simple, used less material, and had a greater range. The disadvantages include its inaccuracy and degraded materials. The range was determined by the weight of the projectile and the strength of the catapult. They used tension with ropes, and ropes lose their elasticity. Ropes and wood degrade. Another disadvantage is that they were slow and vulnerable. (All About Catapults).