“How does different angles of release affect the projectile distance that is launched by a

catapult?”

Emin Cenkci

1
Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Research Question …………………………………………………………………………. 3

Aim ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Background Theory ………………………………………………………………………... 4

Experiment ………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Procedure …………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Analysis of Data …………………………………………………………………………….. 7

Uncertainties and Errors ………………………………………………………………… 8

Evaluation ………………………………………………………………………………… 9

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………… 10

Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Appendix ……………………………………………………………………………….. 11

2
Introduction

Catapults are one of the most extraordinary inventions in weapons history. Its use has played
a major role during conquests and wars. Catapults use stored energy to lunch a projectile.
Which leads to the use of physics. The stored energy comes from the structures mechanism
that includes tension and gravity. This type of engineering back in 550. BCE fascinates me
and it made wanted to investigate further into this topic.

Since I was going to investigate on the catapult and its engineering, I wanted to investigate
the important part of a catapult which would be the angle of the restraining rope.

Research Question

As it is stated the research question for this assessment is: “How does different angles of

release affect the projectile distance that is launched by a catapult?” It will be displaying the

significance of an angle of release during catapult launch by measuring the distance.

Aim

The aim is to make an experiment with a built mangonel catapult model which will display
the significance of angles during a catapult launch based on data from the experiments and
surrounding little physics theory.

3
Background Theory

Constant Vertical Acceleration and Horizontal Velocity

Upon the release of a catapult launch the projectile will accelerate downwards due to gravity.
Vertical acceleration is equal to 9.8 m/s 2 downwards. The projectiles acceleration will
always point downwards no matter how its launched. Projectile cannot accelerate horizontally
meaning it will be 0. There is also a negligible amount of air resistance on our projectile, but
as previously stated, it is negligible.

(Picture taken by Khan academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class11th-physics/in-in-class11th-physics-

motion-in-a-plane/projectiles-launched-at-an-angle/a/projectiles-launched-at-angles).

Launch angle trajectory

Because the fired projectile has a bigger vertical velocity component when the angles are
broader, it will attain maximum height. It will spend more time in the air as it approaches its
maximum height. Vertical velocity components will be greater with steeper launch angles.

4
Experiment

Setup
In these experiments I will be launching a tape ball with built catapult model with certain
angles selected by me. I will then measure for each angles launch distance and determine
which angle gives the best catapult launch distance.

For the experiment, I will be using these tools.

- 8 x 9cm wood log

- 3 x 10 cm wood log
- Duct tape
- 2 x Plastic strings
- Bottle cap
- Pem
- Glue

9cm logs will be used as a frame for the

catapult while two of the 10cm logs will be the
foundation with two 9cm wood logs. The
remaining 10cm wood log will be used as the
arm of the catapult. The bottle cap will be the
bucket and the plastic stringers are the rope.
The pencil will allow the catapult’s angle to be
adjustable meaning it will play the role of
restraining rope

(This model is from Wikipedia,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catapult)

5
Procedure

For the experiments, I will be using a duct tape projectile weighing 3.08g 0.01. I'd make a
light projectile because my catapult model isn't very strong, so anything heavier than 10g
would cause problems with the experiment. The catapult will then be launched from various
angles, with each angle having five launches. The angles are 35°, 45°, 55°, 65°, and 75°.

Each launch will be followed by 2 people that is willing to help to my experiment carefully
and be taken under a video. A large ruler is on the surface to measure the distance. If the
launch didn’t went as expected, then that launch will be invalid and tried again for a valid
one. The reason of the faulty launched could be for various reasons. For example, it could be
the fact that a person must hold the catapult’s arm to make the angle suitable for the
experiment, but in the processes of doing it so, there could be an accidental launch happening
or launch with wrong angle. My expectation is that 45° degree will have best results due to
being a good steep angle.

6
Analysis of Data

Table 1 displays the angles that is used on catapult, it also displays the uncertainties of the
distances that have been acquired. The catapult has launched the projectile 5 times for each
angle and to get a good set of data. The D stands for distance, m is meters and ΔD is for
uncertainty in D. After launching the catapult each time for the experiments, I have carefully
measured the distance of the projectile from its original point. After that, to find the average I
have taken the distances of one angle, summed it up and then divided by five. (Example:
(1.8+1.7+ 1.9+1.6+1.7)
A1’s average value on the table is = 1.74). The uncertainties are
5
calculated by taking the maximum – minimum value from the same data set and dividing by

1.9−1.6
two. (Example: ΔD for A1 is =± 0.15 ).
2

7
Uncertainties and Errors

It is expected to make errors during data gathering or practical experiments. I will state the
random and systematic errors happened during the investigation.

Random errors:

To launch the catapult and get the right angle for the experiment someone had to hold down
the arm of the catapult, but in the processes of doing it so, there could be an accidental launch
happening or a launch with wrong angle. (Experimental error)

Deciding the point of contact between the projectile that have been launched and floor. Even
in the video’s that have been taken it is hard to decide where the ball exactly touched. This
error made the distances that I got a bit more unreliable. (Data analysis error)

Systematic errors:

The projectile was made with a duct tape, which brought different problems like ball being a
bit underweight and making problems during the launch with reasons like not going so far
from its original spot. (Experimental error)

The entire catapult model was constantly demolishing. The catapult model was made by me,
and some of the materials that have been used for the catapult was not suitable for the
experiment. Where every two launches that I have made during the experiment, a part of the
catapult was broken, where I had to fix. This leads up to the fact that every 2 launches were
made with a different catapult model. (Experimental error)

8
Evaluation

After acknowledging the errors, I have made in the experiments, I would fix and make some

changes to the process if I had a new chance to start a new experiment. I would most

definitely make the foundation of the Catapult model with a stronger and a bit heavier

material. This could have been done by going to any sort of shop that offered me a suitable

material for my catapult model. The projectile would have been changed with a light weighed

marble and instead of small and instead of weak rubber bands that have been used as a rope, I

would have used a stronger and a more suitable rubber band.

For the decision of the contact with the projectile and floor, I would have asked aid from

more people for the confirmation of the projectile touching the correct position.

After finishing this experiment, I have started to question myself about the fact that if I have

put actual effort in this this experiment. It made me realize that if I have perhaps put more

effort in to this, the experiment could have been better in every aspect. I could have perhaps

spent more time on making my catapult model which could have caused less problems for

me, or perhaps I could have made deeper research on the background theory. This

investigation most definitely has left me with many question but it also in a way satisfied

myself with the conclusion.

9
Conclusion

After a observing the data that I have acquired, I concluded that the result differs by lot if the

angle of release is a certain angle that is good for maximum horizontal distance. This can be

achieved by launching a projectile at 45 degrees.

Before the experiment and the investigation have begun, I believed that the best catapult

launch angle would be 45° since any angle that is close to 45 and if the beginning speed is the

same, the maximum horizontal distance will be greater. Turns out I was indeed right. Even

though many errors happened during the experiments, the results have satisfied my

expectations.

Bibliography

Projectile launched at an angle review. (2018). Khan Academy

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class11th-physics/in-in-class11th-physics-
motion-in-a-plane/projectiles-launched-at-an-angle/a/projectiles-launched-at-angles

Catapult. (2022). Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catapult

10
Appendix

Variables and definitions:

- d = distance

- ΔD = uncertainty in distance

- m = meter

- θ = inclination angle measured in degrees

11
12