Play Catapult

Technology has allowed catapults to become rather obsolete in modern warfare, but in the Middle Ages catapults were a big part of how battles and even wars were won. Their original intent was to hurl objects of destruction over a castle or city wall in order to eventually invade and conquer. From stones to buckets of tar-like pitch that were lit on fire, catapults made any defense stronger. Today, catapults still have uses but are mostly used for novelty. In fact, you can make a small catapult with popsticks that is just for fun, or perhaps for invading other cubicles.

Instructions

1

Cut off 10 pieces of masking tape about an inch long and place them on the edge of a desk or table so that they are easy to get to when needed. Make sure there is at least one end sticking up to make them easy to grab.

2

Cut the popsicle sticks with the scissors so that you have each of these: three 2-inch pieces, six 4-inch pieces, one 3-inch piece, with one rounded edge and one 4-inch piece, with one rounded edge.

3

Tape two of the 4-inch pieces and two of the 2-inch pieces together with the masking tape so they are sticking together end-to-end. You should start with a 4-inch piece and then a 2 inch, then repeat the pattern. It should look like one long stick when you are done.

4

Fold the long stick so that it forms a rectangle. Reinforce each of the four corners with more masking tape.

5

Place the final 2-inch piece inside the rectangle so that it is flush against one of the 2 inch sides of the rectangle. Tape it firmly to the rectangle but making sure none of that tape is in the center of the piece. Only wrap around the edges.

6

Place a piece of the masking tape sticky side up on the table. Place two of the remaining 4-inch pieces on the tape so they are laying flat, side-by-side. Wrap the tape around, making sure you wrap around at least three times. Use more pieces of tape is necessary. Repeat this step again using the last two 4-inch pieces of popsicle sticks.

7

Tape these two sets of popsicle sticks to the rectangular base, one on each side so there is a space between them. Make sure you wrap at least three times around on each corner so all of the sticks are nice and secure.

8

Snip the rubber band so it is one long piece of elastic.

9

Lay another piece of tape on the table, sticky side up. Lay the last 3-inch popsicle stick piece at the very top of the tape so it is laying horizontally with the rounded edge on the sticky tape. Lay out the snipped rubber band so part of it is overlapping the rounded edge of the stick that is stuck to the tape. Wrap around several times with the tape.

10

Take this stick and insert it between the two four-inch pieces of stick that you put together in Step 5. The stick should go in the middle, which you were careful not to tape. You may need a flathead screwdriver or nail file to gently pry the sticks apart just enough to allow the rubber banded stick to fit in.

11

Stick a piece of tape on the edge of table, sticky side down. Leave just enough tape hanging over the edge to make it easy to grab. Now put a second layer right on top, then a third and fourth. You should now have a small stack of tape.

12

Peel the tape off the table and measure it against a ruler. Snip it so that it is about 2 inches long.

13

Cut the 2-inch stack of tape down the middle vertically, so you have two stacks of tape the exact same size.

14

Mark two lines horizontally in the middle of each of the two stacks of tape. These will be your hinges.

15

Tape one of the hinges to the straight end of the final 4-inch piece of popsicle stick. The other side should be the rounded side, which will be the arm of the catapult that you will launch items from.

16

Tape the remaining hinge on the flip side of the catapult arm. Both hinges should now be taped on either side of the straight edge of the catapult arm. Secure them together by wrapping more tape around them. The two lines you made on each stack should still be visible. Only tape below these lines.

17

Lay the catapult arm into the space in the middle of the rectangular base. The rounded part should be on the edge and the hinge should be flush against the popsicle stick with the rubber band in it.

18

Wrap the hinge to the upright popsicle stick, making sure you do not tape the rubber band. Leave the snipped rubber band hanging freely.

19

Raise the catapult arm so that it is forming a 45-degree angle with the base. Lay the snipped rubber band across it and tape the band to the catapult arm, so that it is also forming a 45-degree angle.

20

Cut a piece of paper so that it is two inches square. Use the ruler and pencil to mark a horizontal line at the top of each side that is a 1/2 inch from the top. When done, there should be four areas where the lines intersect. Snip every other one of these intersecting lines. Fold up these snipped edges so that it forms a small box and tape all the corners well.

21

Attach the box to the catapult arm with tape. Your catapult is now complete.

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