Trebuchet Project
The trebuchet project was a group of people building a counterweight trebuchet. A counterweight trebuchet has a swing arm, counterweight and, a sling. We started off by making a prototype. Then, after figuring out how it works and the best structure we built a 4-foot trebuchet. The purpose of this project was to see how to throw an object as far as possible with a trebuchet. I learned a lot from this project.
By using both kinetic and potential energy we learned how to throw a projectile as far as possible. When we held the counterweight up or lifted the weight it gained potential energy. When you let the weight go, all the potential energy turns into kinetic energy and the swing arm launches forward. We also used velocity to throw farther. Velocity is speed and direction, this helped us by when we made the sling. The sling got attached to a short metal rod at the top of the swing arm. If the metal rod was bent sideways it would go in that direction or if it was bent too much or not enough it would release to early or too late.
Next, we used acceleration to help us throw as far as possible. When the weight drops it flys backward sending the swing arm to launch forward. When the weight was accelerating down the swing arm was acceleration up. Last, projectile motion. Projectile motion is an upside down shape and the only force on the object is gravity. Using the metal rod connected to the top of the swing arm we were able to have the sling release at the correct angle.
In this project, we had to work in groups of people with different personalities. We had to learn how to collaborate as a team. At the beginning of this project, only one person was taking charge of the group, by the end of the project we all had different ideas incorporated into the trebuchet. Also, we use communicated about what extra materials we needed and what extra time we could work on the trebuchet. And we talked about all of our ideas as a group. We all worked as a team.
Another skill we used was critical thinking. We all had to think hard and do a lot of research to understand how and why a trebuchet works. My group brainstormed how to create a trebuchet out of pieces of wood. Finally, we used our creativity in this project. We had to come up with all the materials that we could use and we had to look at objects in different ways to see if we could get different uses than its meant for.
During this project, I did run into some challenges that were hard to get by. First, I was new to the school and I got thrown into a group of people I didn’t know very well. Second, I was kinda shy and didn’t feel like my opinion mattered. And third, I just did whatever anyone told me instead of asking questions about what I didn’t understand.
My strengths benefited me in this project because I am a hard worker, good at remembering things and, good at math. Being a hard worker means you get the job done. Being good at remembering things helped me when we were ordering what size wood we needed, I was able to remember them. And last, being good at math was beneficial because when we needed the wood to be centered or we needed a certain length of wood I could do the math fast.
By using both kinetic and potential energy we learned how to throw a projectile as far as possible. When we held the counterweight up or lifted the weight it gained potential energy. When you let the weight go, all the potential energy turns into kinetic energy and the swing arm launches forward. We also used velocity to throw farther. Velocity is speed and direction, this helped us by when we made the sling. The sling got attached to a short metal rod at the top of the swing arm. If the metal rod was bent sideways it would go in that direction or if it was bent too much or not enough it would release to early or too late.
Next, we used acceleration to help us throw as far as possible. When the weight drops it flys backward sending the swing arm to launch forward. When the weight was accelerating down the swing arm was acceleration up. Last, projectile motion. Projectile motion is an upside down shape and the only force on the object is gravity. Using the metal rod connected to the top of the swing arm we were able to have the sling release at the correct angle.
In this project, we had to work in groups of people with different personalities. We had to learn how to collaborate as a team. At the beginning of this project, only one person was taking charge of the group, by the end of the project we all had different ideas incorporated into the trebuchet. Also, we use communicated about what extra materials we needed and what extra time we could work on the trebuchet. And we talked about all of our ideas as a group. We all worked as a team.
Another skill we used was critical thinking. We all had to think hard and do a lot of research to understand how and why a trebuchet works. My group brainstormed how to create a trebuchet out of pieces of wood. Finally, we used our creativity in this project. We had to come up with all the materials that we could use and we had to look at objects in different ways to see if we could get different uses than its meant for.
During this project, I did run into some challenges that were hard to get by. First, I was new to the school and I got thrown into a group of people I didn’t know very well. Second, I was kinda shy and didn’t feel like my opinion mattered. And third, I just did whatever anyone told me instead of asking questions about what I didn’t understand.
My strengths benefited me in this project because I am a hard worker, good at remembering things and, good at math. Being a hard worker means you get the job done. Being good at remembering things helped me when we were ordering what size wood we needed, I was able to remember them. And last, being good at math was beneficial because when we needed the wood to be centered or we needed a certain length of wood I could do the math fast.