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Alex Barbour
Caroline Fogel
Santiago Mejia
Mr. Hill
Physics Period 6
11 December 2014
Trebuchet Lab
Introduction:
Objective: Determine the velocity, displacement, and height of a projectile launched by a
trebuchet. Then using that information, determine the transfer of energy from the trebuchet to the
projectile.
Background: The trebuchet was used in the Middle Ages as a siege weapon to launch rocks and
other projectiles over the walls of castles and other territories. The trebuchet uses the gravitational
potential energy of a counterweight in order to launch the projectiles in a parabolic arc.
Results: The construction of the trebuchet was successful and enabled us to model the transfer of
the gravitational potential energy of the counterweight to kinetic energy as the projectile is
launched.
Materials & Diagram:
Trebuchet kit:
1 pre-cut wooden sheet
6 metal washers
1 metal rod
1 wire
1 cloth rectangle
clay
rubber band
fishing line
white glue
pliers
sand paper
wax paper
scissors
tape measure
video camera

Procedure:
Using the instructions that come with the trebuchet kit, construct the trebuchet.
Data:

Trial #

Range (x) in meters

1.85

1.73

1.77

1.68

1.71

Calculations:
Maximum range: 1.85 meters
That shot was in the air for 2 seconds.
= 9 degrees
Finding horizontal velocity:
V= d / t
V = 1.85 m / 2 s
V = 0.925 m/s
Finding velocity:
cos9 = 0.925/hyp
hyp = 0.937 m/s
Finding maximum height:
h = (V^2sin^2)/2g
h = (0.925)^2sin^2(9)/(2)(9.81)
h = 0.00106 meters (0.106 cm)
0.00106 m + .53 m (height of trebuchet) = 0.531 meters
Finding potential energy (of counterweight):
PE = mgh
PE = (0.065 kg)(9.81 m/s)(0.23 m)
PE = 0.1466595 J
Finding kinetic energy:
KE = mv^2
KE = (0.048 kg)(0.925 m/s)^2
KE = 0.020535
Finding percent of potential energy converted to kinetic energy:
(KE/PE) x 100
(0.020535/0.1466595) x 100 = 14%
Discussion/Analysis:
We followed the instructions included with trebuchet kit, however we replaced the microfilament
with sewing thread. Other than that, we used to kit step by step in order to build and test our trebuchet.
We all met over Thanksgiving break in order to collect our data and start the lab. Everyone in our lab
group worked really well together and we all collaborated to make the most accurate trials,
measurements, and calculations. We learned the most about the actual trebuchet and how hard it must
have been in order to build and operate one on a large scale.
Although we worked well together and were able to complete the lab, we had a lot of problems
finding the angle of release as well as the height. We werent sure how to find the angle without having

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the height, but we didnt know how to find the height without the angle. What we ended up doing was
taking a video of the launch, pausing the video at the time of release, and manually measuring the angle
with a protractor. Then, we used that angle (9 degrees) to find the maximum height. Once we realized that
the height was super small, we realized we needed to measure the distance between where the projectile
was released and the base of the trebuchet. Finding the potential and kinetic energies was pretty simple,
and we attributed a low percent of transfer to a combination of human error and friction.
Conclusion:
Our results show that the trebuchet was a very valid weapon, even if it was a bit complicated. We
learned a lot about how different factors, including energy and even friction, play a huge role in making
sure that the projectile goes where it needs to go.

Bibliography:
"TrebuchetPlans.com." Trebuchet.com. Ancient Engineering Series, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
"Trebuchet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebuchet>.
Vick, Andrew. "The Trebuchet." Trebuchet:. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
<http://web.grinnell.edu/courses/ant/S00/ANT154-01/vick/treb.html>.