0-pSmashin Punkins

Eric Setka
Josiaph Jenkins
Natalie Youssef
TREBUCHET PROJECT PROPOSAL

Materials List
Amount

Item

Description

Location

12

8' 4x4 Wood Planks

For sides and arm

Home Depot

Cost Each
$

9.78

Total Cost
$

117.36

15/32" Thick 8'x4'

Plywood

For base and

frame

Home Depot

21.45

85.80

20

Bolts, Nuts and

Washers

General Assembly

Home Depot

1.00

20.00

Boxes of Screws

General Assembly

Home Depot

10.00

30.00

10

80lb Bags of
Concrete

For weight

Home Depot

4.24

42.40

Projectiles
(Pumpkins,
Medicine Balls)

Projectile

Free

Small Metal
Release Pin

To launch

Free

Steel Pipe

As hand axle

Home Depot

Rope

Various uses

Free

10.00
$

Sling

10.00
$

Stakes

To hold in place

Free?

6x6 Wood Planks

For Base

Home Depot

28.47

170.82

50

Lag Bolts

General Assembly

Home Depot

0.75

37.50

Ruler

Planning

Free

Saws

Assembly

Free

Protractor

Planning

Free

Drills and Drill Bits

Assembly

Free

Wrench Set

Assembly

Free

Wheels

Glidetrack

Home Depot

Tape Measure

Measuring

Free

3.00
$

Total Cost

12.00
$

525.88

Process
How long? Time to complete each task?

Tasks per week:

September 15th- 21st

We will create an outline and blueprints.

This will include the popsicle or mini wood design in

order to have a visual and test our design. From here
we can make revisions and decisions before creating

the final large trebuchet.

September 22nd- 28th
We will create the base and a glidetrack.

The base: The base should be created with the

counterweight and size and width of the tower in
mind. The size of the weight will need to swing
through without any interferences. If the weight is
wider than the tower it will not pass through.
The glidetrack: This surface will be created under
the base. The sling harness will slide after the
trebuchet trigger is activated. Then the swing arm
lever will be released and the attached sling will be
drawn along the glide path. Then the sling will be
whipped upward, creating an arc shape when the
cradle holding a projectile opens and releases it.

September 29th- October 5th

We will create the tower support frame and swing
arm lever.

Tower support frame: While creating the tower

support frame we will keep in mind the size and
weight that we plan to use.
Swing arm lever: We will keep our proportions in
mind while creating the swing arm lever. Depending
on the length of the base we can determine the size
of the swing arm lever.

October 6th- October 12th

We will create the counterweight and sling.

Counterweight: The counterweight will predict the

height and distance that a projectile will achieve. After
creating the counterweight we must calculate the
height and distance using our equations and
calculations sheet.
Sling: The sling will be attached to the long end of the
swing arm lever. This will be connected by rope which
is connected to a pouch holding the object that will be
projected. Every release design is different. Create
release design. (The sling harness should be
designed to release the counterweight from the pouch
when it reaches the tip of the launch path)

October 13th - October 19th

We will test the Trebuchet and record trials.

Using the counterweight (the pumpkin) test the

trebuchet. We will work together if there is error in the
trebuchet.

October 20th - October 26th

Refine.

Last week will be spent refining and double checking

everything.

Reference: http://howtomakeatrebuchet.com/blog/

Preliminary Calculations
Best release angle is at 30 degrees
The length of the base should be 75-80% of the length of a swing arm
The width of the base should be about one-third of its length
In most cases, the glide path should be three-fourths (3/4) the length of the base.
Tower frame is generally about 3/4 the length of the base
Counterweights should be approximately 75-100 times the weight of the projectile.
Swing arm lever works well when it is 1.4 1.6 times the base length.

The sling harness length should be approximately 3/4 of the glide board.
The coordinates of the counterweight M are given as:

The acceleration of the counterweight M is:

By Newton's Second Law,

where M is the mass of the counterweight.

Therefore,

(http://www.virtualtrebuchet.com/)
(http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/trebuchet-physics.html)