wiki Word: catapult

Definition: any kind of device that shoots or launches a projectile by mechanical means.

The device referred to as a catapult was orignated as a battle weapon. Catapults vary from a simple toy to a weapon of destruction. The Trebuchet is the oldest catapult to our knowledge. It originated in the middle east, probably China. A catapult is now found in almost any county. Over time, catupults have advanced and transformed. 

Different Catapults

 The Trebuchet is probably the oldest type of catapult. It was invented either by the Chinese or in the middle east. If you look at an Egyptian shadouf, it looks very much like a trebuchet, and it's easy to imagine that the trebuchet was inspired by the shadouf. (A shadouf is just a long pole balanced in the middle, with a weight on one end and a rope attached to the other end with a bucket tied to it) 

     Trebuchet                       Ballista

(if this image doesnt come out clearly, highlight it with your mouse.)

 The next oldest type of catapult is the Ballista. This machine was deliberately invented by the Greeks, around 800 BCE. Ballistae were even mounted on warships and used to hurl fire onto other ships.

 Catapults have evolved vastly since the days of Ancient Greece, but they are still present in the artillery of our modern army. The basic principles of the Greeks’ and Romans’ catapults have been preserved.  For example, we have massive steam catapults, which are used to launch aircraft from carriers at sea. The major difference between these modern catapults is that they use compressed air rather than gravity, tension, or torsion. The benefit of this device is still present, the catapult provides a fast yet controlled energy source and a right angle for the launch. With a catapult objects can be thrown long distances with amazing accuracy.

 Catapults are important devices and if you are considering a field that demands the catapult, you will need knowledge on them. In the first semester of 7th Grade, we conducted an experiment based around the effects and forces catapults apply to projectiles.

C0mm3nts?