Rohan Ayyar

Period 3/4
12/5/16
Trebuchet Proof of Efficacy Document

The goal of this project was to create a trebuchet that would launch a ball the farthest distance.
However, we had many restrictions for this project such as:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

No dimension of the trebuchet could exceed 1 meter

Has to be reusable
Must have a base that sits on the ground
Two legs that hold up an axle
A lever with a load and effort
Easily Portable
It should fire by itself

We started this project off with an experiment. This experiment was basically changing one
variable of our original design and seeing how it would affect the distance of the ball. Our specific change
was the position of the firing nail. These were our results:

Distance of the
ball(m)

#1(m)

#2(m)

#3(m)

#4(m)

Average(m)

0 degrees

6.12

6.07

5.58

6.04

5.95

20 degrees

4.16

4.57

5.32

4.64

4.67

45 degrees

3.42

2.98

2.24

2.32

2.74

90 degrees

1.22

1.15

.95

1.03

1.09

These results show, as said in our CLEAR paragraph, that if the firing nail is positioned at 0
degrees, then it will go the farthest distance.
Now that we gathered the information, it was time to present it. We created a poster for this
project that showed how claim, evidence, and reasoning. We changed the angle of the nail, but other
groups changed other variables, and because of this, we were able to get enough information to create a
new trebuchet that could fly the farthest distance.
To make our ball go more distance, we changed a few variables, like:
The number of rubber bands: One of the first things we learned was that rubber bands release
more energy, and to get more energy, you would need more rubber bands. In fact, the group that changed
the number of rubber bands as their experiment supported this idea. So we changed the number of rubber
bands from 2 to 9. We chose 9 because we felt like it was a number that would achieve a far distance, but
at the same time, not break the nail off.
Ratio of lever placement: Another variable we changed was the ratio of the placement of firing
arm. What this basically means is the balance of the lever. Originally, we had a 8:1 ratio, meaning 8/9 of
the lever on one side, while 1/9 is on the other. This did not work well, and another group confirmed that
the best ratio for the arm would be 2:1, so we changed ours to that.
Length of String: We also changed the length of string. Originally, the length of the string of the
ball was 15 cm, but that didnt work well. So we got the information of an experiment conducted on the
length of string, and found out 20 cm would make the ball go the farthest distance. I think the reason this
works is because as we learned with circles, if youre traveling a big and small circle and completing
rounds at the same time, in the bigger circle, you will travel more distance. Similarly, since the distance of
the string is longer, it will make the ball rotate and achieve a farther distance.
Length of Fulcrum: After changing all of those variables, we heard based on an experiment done
by another group, the higher the axle is placed, the more distance the ball will fly. Because of this
experiment, we decided to change our length to 34 cm because the higher the ball starts, the higher it
goes, meaning the farther it travels.
0 degree position of nail: Unlike the others, this decision was based on an experiment that we
conducted. As I mentioned before, we ran a test using multiple positions of nails, and found 0 degrees to
be the best. Here is our analysis (CLEAR) paragraph:
In our Fire Away Project, we tested to see what angle the nail should be at to get the ball to fly
the farthest distance. While looking at our data, we noticed that angling the nail at 0 degrees made the ball
go 5.95 meters while angling the nail 90 degrees made it go 1.1 meters. This, and many other pieces of
data helped us come to the conclusion that the lower angle degree that the nail was, the further the ball
would fly. When we started this project, we were not sure how changing one small variable could affect
the machine. That all changed when we began gathering data. We did this by first modifying the angle of

the nail to what we wanted it to be for the trial. Then we set up a measuring tape around 7 meters from the
machine. When the machine was ready to be tested, we put the clay ball around the nail, attached the
rubber bands to the opposing side, and released to measure the distance. After multiple angle
modifications, we came to our conclusion. Our averages for the machine were 90 degrees, 1.1 m; 45
degrees, 2.88 m; 20 degrees, 4.68 m; and 0 degrees went 5.95 m. All of these calculations may be
different, but together support one thing: the lower angle degree the nail is at, the more distance the ball
will fly. This could overall represent how a greater angle for the nail allows less Potential Energy for the
rubber band because it doesnt have to stretch as much. This has a big effect on the machine because less
Potential Energy means less energy released to get distance, meaning overall less distance. This applies to
real life because it is easier to reach(with your hands) an angled pole than a straight one, because it is
generally closer.
As said in the paragraph, this was probably because since the nail was aiming straight out (0
degrees), the rubber bands had to stretch the farthest out of all trials, meaning that the release would give
more energy, making it travel more distance.
Mass of firing ball: And lastly, we changed the mass of the firing ball. According to a 2 studies
conducted by other groups in our class, the best mass for the firing ball would be between 7 to 10 grams.
Following this experiment, we had to choose a mass between 7 and 10, so we stuck with 8 grams.
After all of the calculations, we calculated the measurements of the trebuchet. They are listed
below:
Distance Horizontally

26.5 m, 86.94 ft

Distance Vertically

9.6 m, 31.5 ft

Time in air

1.45 seconds

Velocity horizontal

18.93 m/s, 42.35 miles per hour

Velocity Vertical

6.86 m/s, 15.35 miles per hour

Velocity Total (m/s)

20.13 m/s, 45.03 miles per hour

Spring Potential Energy

6.43 J

Kinetic Energy of the ball

1.62 J

Spring Constant

89 N/m, 6.1 pounds of force per foot

This trebuchet is the best because it wasnt just made without any thought, it took a lot of research
and compiling to get this design. A good example of this is when we took the information from every
groups experiments as we mentioned before, and compiled all of the best lengths and weights into one

single trebuchet. This is what separates our design from the rest. At the beginning of the project, we just
tried new variables to see which one would go the fastest, but now we are well knowledge of these
measurements and are able to apply them to benefit our machine. Now that is one good trebuchet.