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Trebuchet Project Introduction - Cookie Version

This document describes a "Junk Food Trebuchet Project" where students will build a trebuchet out of edible materials that can launch small candies or other food items. A trebuchet uses potential energy from a counterweight to launch a projectile. The project will involve researching trebuchet designs, drafting plans, baking a frame from edible materials, and testing the device's ability to launch food accurately over short distances. Students will complete and submit various artifacts documenting the design, construction, and testing of their trebuchet. The goal is for students to apply mechanical engineering concepts while gaining skills in research, design, and problem solving.

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187 views

Trebuchet Project Introduction - Cookie Version

This document describes a "Junk Food Trebuchet Project" where students will build a trebuchet out of edible materials that can launch small candies or other food items. A trebuchet uses potential energy from a counterweight to launch a projectile. The project will involve researching trebuchet designs, drafting plans, baking a frame from edible materials, and testing the device's ability to launch food accurately over short distances. Students will complete and submit various artifacts documenting the design, construction, and testing of their trebuchet. The goal is for students to apply mechanical engineering concepts while gaining skills in research, design, and problem solving.

Uploaded by

api-462207870
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Junk Food Trebuchet

Project
Gravitational Potential Energy → Kinetic Energy
What is a Trebuchet?

● A historical siege machine which uses


a large mass to launch a much smaller
mass over a large distance.
● Consists of a frame, a track, an arm
on a pivot, a large mass, a sling, and a
small projectile.
● Traction Trebuchet vs. Counterweight
Trebuchet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebuchet
Why would we build one?
● Transformations of Mechanical Energy
○ Gravitational Potential Energy
○ Spring Potential Energy
○ Kinetic Energy
● First Project: Gravitational Potential
Energy to Kinetic Energy
● Skills:
○ Design Research
○ Hand Drafting and Design
○ Baking / candy making
○ Material testing and improvement
○ Creative Problem Solving
○ Fine-tuning a design to meet performance
criteria
Analysis: Mechanical Advantage
Mechanical Advantage = A/B
Mechanical Advantage is a way to quantify:
This is also the ratio of the speed of the end of
the throwing arm to the speed of the
“What you get out” Force out counterweight

“What you put in” Force in

You can’t get more energy out of a machine


than you put into it, so force will always be a
trade-off for motion.

In a trebuchet, we use a large weight moving


“slowly” on one end of a LEVER to launch a
small weight very fast from the other end of
the lever
Specify Parameters 6 points
2m 7 pt

● Gravity-Powered (No elastic bands,


twisted ropes, or hand powered) 5 points
50 cm
● Must include a trigger mechanism to
release the arm. 5 pt
1m
● Must fit within an 50 cm (20 in) cube.
● Frame must be made of an edible, 4.5 points
homemade material (cookies, fudge, 0.5 m 4.5 pt
breadsticks, etc.) and held together
with edible “glue” (caramel, icing) 4 points

● The trebuchet should be able to launch launch


accurately within a 4m range. Launch 3.5 points

score sheet
Additional Information
You are responsible for acquiring your
materials. You may collect materials from
your homes, friends, or relatives, or
purchase new materials.

The idea here is to use simple, inexpensive


materials - ingredients for the edible base,
toothpicks, bamboo skewers, string or
cooking twine, cheesecloth or parchment,
and small candies (like m&m’s or jelly
beans) for your ammunition
Artifacts (things that get graded)
● SMART goal (group)
● 4 Design research slides (group)
● Concept sketch (individual)
● Materials and Recipe (individual)
● Formal Design Draft / pattern (individual)
● Finished Prototype (individual)
● Launch testing (individual)
● Engineering Journal (individual)
● Engineer’s Statement (individual)
● Digital Portfolio artifact reflection (individual)

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