Play Catapult

Catapult building is a common project assignment throughout upper elementary, middle and even high school. Teachers may ask students to build a catapult to support learning mathematics, science or history. Besides providing a useful academic exercise, however, catapult building and use brings an opportunity to use your imagination and creativity as you hurl anything from paper clips to soccer balls.

Troll Catapult

The troll catapult measures only tabletop size and can be constructed by a beginner catapult creator. As with many do-it-yourself catapult plans, you can replace many of the required materials with things you have around the house to create a unique contraption. The official plans for this catapult, a miniature replica of medieval siege catapults, call for several short pieces of wood, screws, nails, rubber bands, eye hooks, wood glue, cardboard and a small strip of metal. You will need to be able to cut the wood, screw and nail to complete this project.

Backyard Bungee Catapult

The backyard bungee catapult measures about 2 feet long. It uses a bungee cord as the power source, so users should wear safety goggles when making and firing it, just in case the cord snaps. Though it uses a bungee cord as the power source, it only shoots about 30 feet. However, you will be able to build this catapult in about two hours out of common materials, including 2-by-3s, a bungee cord, a paper cup, eye hooks, screws and a broom handle. You can substitute materials, if necessary.

Mousetrap Catapult

This tiny catapult measures only the size of your hand, and you can make it in less than one minute. However, you will need to exercise caution when using it because when the spring mechanism snaps, it can cause harm to the user. To make it, you will need a mousetrap, pliers, a plastic spoon, electrical tape and a soft projectile, such as a marshmallow or grape. The spoon will act as the cup for your projectile. Use a smaller or larger mousetrap according to your needs and tastes. The finished catapult will hurl objects up to 40 feet.

Tiny Castle Catapult

Make this catapult to go along with a castle-building project. It provides an excellent working prop for a paper mache castle and can be used to play storm-the-castle games. You will need 10 Popsicle sticks, a ruler, a pencil, scissors, a large rubber band and masking tape. While you do not need any special woodworking skills to complete this project, you will develop crafting skills as you go. After you finish it, try shooting wads of paper through the castle windows, assigning different point values to each window.

"Straw Hat Samurai" is a fun Flash game that tests your reflexes and strategic skills. For most of the game, you'll be slashing through opponents using mouse drags to symbolize sword slashes. After beating the first portion, you play through a strategy mode before facing the game's final boss.

Instructions

The Beginning

1 Follow the tutorial at the beginning of the game to learn the basics. For most of the game, you'll use your mouse to draw lines through enemies, slashing and defeating them.
2 Click on a new tile after you complete each level to move to that tile. Each stage you beat unlocks new areas. When you finish an area, the screen goes black and red and "Area Clear" appears.
3 Go to tiles with treasure chests to unlock bonuses upon beating that level. The bonuses let you choose between 10 extra hit points or a 10-percent chance to dodge attacks.
4 Follow the "Bow Tutorial" when offered the opportunity to learn how to pick up arrows and use your bow. Hold "Shift" to ready your bow and use the mouse to aim it, holding down the left mouse button to ready a shot. Release the button to shoot the bow. Use the bow when facing archers in a tower. Simply slash through ground archers.
5 Slash under the shields when you encounter enemies carrying shields. If they're kneeling, get behind them and slash their backs. When you encounter the catapult near the end, slash through the catapult balls before they hit the ground to send them back to the catapult, destroying it.
6 Choose to fire the catapult at the gate to enter strategy mode. Alternatively, choose to fire it at enemy troops to make strategy mode easier, but then you must defeat the remaining enemies covering the rest of the tiles.

Strategy Mode

7 Select white sectors, which are unoccupied. Your sectors are blue, while enemy sectors are red. The number on each sector indicates the strength of the troops stationed there.
8 Click red sectors next to your blue sectors to attempt to take over the sector. Your chances of success are higher if the number on your blue tile is larger than the number on the red tile. Click "End Turn" when done to receive reinforcements and let the enemy go.
9 Click the Samurai after each turn and move him as close as you can to the tent in the middle of the five others. Continue taking over red tiles until you reach the tent, then move the Samurai there to begin the final battle.

The catapult was first designed by the ancient Greeks to throw projectiles a great distance since they didn't have explosives. During medieval times, catapults were used to hurl incendiary devices and dead animals over the walls of besieged cities in a type of biological warfare. Now you, too, can use a catapult during a slow day at work to smash through your boredom and assault your co-workers.

Instructions

1 Insert the rubber band into a paper clip so that the clip is holding the band secure in the wire loop.
2 Using masking tape, tape the clip to the end of the tape dispenser so that it and the rubber band stick up a third of an inch.
3 Attach the handle end of a plastic spoon to the tape dispenser so that it pivots in the wheel well using the tape wheel as an axle.
4 Loop the rubber band around the spoon and secure with tape.
5 Place foam in the bottom of the tape well to stop the spoon from pivoting at the desired angle to achieve maximum launch trajectory.

Since its invention in the Middle Ages, the catapult has been an item of interest to humans bent on projecting missiles. Catapults today are more likely to take the form of a handheld slingshot than a large piece of equipment designed to bring down a castle wall, but the concept of using tension and release to send projectiles through the air is the same. Make your own mini catapult with foam board, toothpicks and rubber bands, and send all of your loose change sailing through the room.

Instructions

1 Draw three 2-inch squares onto the foam board and cut them out with the utility knife. Draw one 1-inch-by-3-inch rectangle onto the foam board and cut it out.
2 Lay one square on the tabletop. Place another square perpendicular to the first, on top of one of the edges. Use a pencil to make an X underneath this upright square, about 1/4 inch from the edge of the square on the table. Get the X as close to the middle of the foam board's thickness as you can. Repeat this on the other end. You should now have an X 1/4 inch away from either end of the bottom square, precisely under the center of the perpendicular foam board square.
3 Make two more X marks on the bottom square, on the side parallel to the side where you placed the upright square. Use the third square as a guide. You should now have four X marks on the bottom square.
4 Break two toothpicks in half. Flip the square over so that the X marks retain their left-right orientation but are now on the bottom of the flat square. Hold one of the squares perpendicular to the bottom square on the side where there are no X marks and stick a straight pin through the X and into the perpendicular foam square. Remove the pin and stick half of a toothpick, pointy end first, through the hole to secure the squares to each other. Repeat this with the other X. You should now have one flat square with a perpendicular square along one of its edges. Repeat this with the third foam square to complete your catapult base.
5 Make an X mark 1/4 inch down from the top edge at the center of both side pieces of your base. Make an X mark on both foam sides of your long rectangular foam piece 2 inches from one end and 1 inch from the other end. The X marks should line up exactly. On the end where you have left an inch, make another X 1/4 inch away from the edge and 3/4 inch away from the first X. Do this on both sides so they line up exactly.
6 Tie two mini rubber bands together. Stick the pin through the X marks on the long rectangle, then widen the hole with a toothpick. Use a toothpick to feed one end of the rubber band chain through the rectangle. Pull the rubber bands through until there are equal amounts of rubber band showing on both sides of the rectangle.
7 Stick the straight pin through each side X in turn, then through the other X marks on the long rectangle. Run a toothpick through one side X, through the long rectangle and through the other side X to secure your catapult arm. Wiggle the toothpick around to widen this hole, as you will want the arm to be able to swing freely.
8 Make an X on each side of the base, just above the foam board (about 1/4 inch) and 1/2 inch away from the edge on the side of the base where the rubber bands are hanging from the catapult arm. Stick a pin through both X marks in turn, then feed a toothpick through 1 X, both rubber bands and through the other side of the base.
9 Gouge out a circle on the free end of the catapult arm into which to place your projectiles. Test it with light objects first so as not to cause accidental damage to your home.

The middle ages were a turbulent period in Mesopotamia. The westward expansion of the Saljuq Turks in the 11th century was followed by periodic warfare with Western crusaders which lasted for several centuries. Finally, the Mongol invasion of 1258 destroyed many towns and villages. Throughout this period, siege weapons such as catapults played a major role. There were two main types of catapult: torsion-powered weapons, called onagers in the West, and counterweight-powered machines, known as trebuchets. Although powerful, these machines were relatively simple. Follow these steps and you can construct your own trebuchet.

Instructions

1 Decide the scale of your trebuchet. Medieval catapults varied in size, but some trebuchets were 50 feet tall, capable of shooting nearly a mile. A scaled-down version can be as small as you want. A foot-tall trebuchet will throw its ammunition as far as thirty feet.
2 Plan your trebuchet. The amount of detail you can build depends on scale, but the basic framework is the same. You'll need a swing arm, two long base pieces, two uprights, three crosspieces for the base and two triangle-shaped supports for the uprights. Cut these out of wood using your saw or craft knife. The swing arm should be a third as long as your base pieces and your uprights should be a sixth shorter than the base. The base crosspieces should be as long as you want your trebuchet to be wide. This should be about half the length of the upright.
3 Attach the uprights to the bases at right angles. Lay out a base piece, then place the upright against it, 1/4 of its length from the forward end. For smaller models, these can be attached with wood glue. For larger models, you may need to fit the upright into a slot in the base. Secure the two pieces by screwing the triangular support piece to both of them. Repeat the process so that you have two matching supports with attached uprights.
4 Attach the crosspieces so that they join the two halves of your base. One crosspiece should go at either end, with the third located behind the uprights. Your trebuchet will now resemble a rectangular frame with two uprights protruding from it. Glue or screw the crosspieces in place and, if necessary, leave them to dry. Cut a final thin piece of wood or paper and attach it across the top of the base to create a smooth surface.
5 Select the length of metal rod or pipe you want to use for your axle. Drill a hole 1/4 of the way down your throwing arm, making sure that the axle fits into it. Drill another hole on either side of this hole. The distance between the holes should be 1/16h of the length of the throwing arm. Insert a screw hook into the end of the arm closest to the holes.
6 Drill holes of the same size near the top of the uprights. Insert the axle through one upright, then through one of the holes in the throwing arm, then through the other upright. Make sure the throwing arm has room to swing freely.
7 Attach your counterweight to the hook in the end of the throwing arm. The counterweight should be a heavy, dense object. Medieval trbuchets used containers filled with stones. Use wire or cord to connect this to the hook, making sure the arm can still swing freely.
8 Insert a bent nail or pin into the head end of the throwing arm. Place a screw hook in the underside of the arm near the head. These will form the attachment points for the pouch which will hold your payload.
9 Cut a sling pouch out of cloth or leather. Attach a length of cord to each end of the pouch. Tie one firmly to the screw hook at the head of the throwing arm. Make a small loop from wire and attach it to the other. This will fit over the bent pin at the end of the throwing arm. You'll have to adjust the length of the cord and the angle of the pin to guarantee a smooth release.
10 Test your trebuchet. Place a projectile in the pouch and place the pouch on top of the base. Depress the throwing arm, raising the counterweight. When you release the arm, the counterweight will drop, whipping the sling around in an arc and releasing the projectile.

Today, catapults are no longer needed as weapons to fight wars. However, if you enjoy watching things being hurled in the air, a miniature catapult craft might be right for you. There are complete catapult kits available and tons of scrap materials that can be used to create your own catapult. Small scrap pieces of wood, pencils, Popsicle sticks, and a mouse trap can be used to build a catapult. A mousetrap catapult is cheap and only requires a few other materials that may be found around the house.

Instructions

1 On the mousetrap, find the long metal trigger arm and the metal piece that activates the trigger. Use your pliers to remove the arm and the piece that activates the trap. Don't remove the spring and the square metal arm that traps the mouse.
2 Hot glue your cap near the edge of one side of the Popsicle stick. Let it cool until the glue is hard.
3 Place the end of the Popsicle stick without the cap between the wood and the square metal arm. The stick should lie underneath the arm in the middle.
4 Wrap tape around the stick and square metal arm until the stick is tightly secured to the arm. The end of the stick should nearly touch the spring.
5 Place a safe object on the cap. Pull the square arm back and let it go to fire the object across the room.

Catapults are simple machines, making them ideal for science projects or school demonstrations. Every catapult includes a lever, a basic component of some simple machines. Some teachers may get nervous about having catapults in the classroom, but a simple and safe ping pong ball catapult can demonstrate important concepts, while keeping students safely engaged.

Instructions

1
Stack seven craft sticks on top of each other. Secure them tightly by twisting a rubber band around each end of the stack or hot-gluing them together. This stack will act as the fulcrum.
2 Stack the two remaining craft sticks on top of one another. Secure them by twisting a rubber band around one end of the stack several times. You should be able to spread the craft sticks apart at the end opposite the rubber band. The upper craft stick of this small stack will act as the lever arm.
3 Slide stack of seven craft sticks between stack of two craft sticks from open end all the way to the rubber band holding the opposite end. The stack of seven craft sticks should be perpendicular to the stack of two sticks. The lower of the two sticks should lie flat, while the upper stick will extend up at an angle.
4 Secure the fulcrum and lever craft sticks with a rubber band. Place one end of the rubber band around the fulcrum stack and slide it all the way to the lever stack. Twist the rubber band over and slide it around the shorter end of the lever stack, then twist it again over the opposite end of the fulcrum stack. Twist the rubber band back over the whole assembly again several times, in the same way.
5 Hot glue the plastic spoon's handle to the lever arm craft stick, so that the spoon faces up and can hold a projectile.
6
Hold the edges of the fulcrum with one hand. Use your other hand to place the ping pong ball in the spoon, then push the spoon down and release it.

"Lego Kingdoms" is a website where you can play a variety of video games. One of the games that you can play is the "Catapult Showdown" video game. In this game, you take the role of one of the Lego knights who must use their catapults to destroy the opposing knight. However, you do not have to play each level if you do not want to. You can skip levels in the game by selecting the "Skip" button.

Instructions

1 Open "Lego Kingdoms" (see Resources).
2 Select "Catapult Showdown."
3 Click "Skip," which is at the top-right corner of the game.
4 Repeat this process until you reach the level you want to play.

Block of wood 6x2x1

Clothes pin

Wood cube 1x1x1

Popsicle stick

Plastic bottle cap

Wood glue

Instructions

1 Lay the six-inch block on a flat surface. If your surface is not flat, you might have trouble constructing the catapult because the pieces could slide before the glue dries.
2 Glue the clothespin to the center of the block, making sure it runs along the length of the block.
3 Allow the glue to set for four hours.
4 Glue the one-inch block to the top of the open end of the clothespin so it looks like the block is resting on top of the clothespin.
5 Allow the glue to set for four hours.
6 Glue the Popsicle stick to the top of the block, with more than half of the stick hanging off the end.
7 Let the glue set for four hours. Then glue the cap (with the opening facing up) to the stick. You may place objects, like beanbags, in the cap to catapult.

A homemade catapult can vault you into the good graces of your friends and family. Next time someone yells "Food fight!" in your backyard you can show them that you're ready to rock with a food catapult. Sizes can vary, but in general you'll want something big enough to hurl a small pumpkin or a mess of other items (probably about 6 to 8 feet in length). Use your catapult to copy the ancient Greek armies, whose use of the weapon made even the fiercest of opponents -- including the Huns and Mongols -- turn and run. Be sure to stay safe with the device and never launch anything dangerous directly at another person.

Instructions

1 Set the two 2x4 pieces of wood on top of each other lengthwise. Measure halfway across the bottom piece and mark it with a straight line. Place the top board so that its end lays flat across the line.
2 Place the hinge in the space between the two boards, pressing it against the end of one of the boards and the top of the other. Hold it in place and mark the screw holes.
3 Use the electric drill to drill a screw into each hole of the hinge. Connect the two boards so they stand at an "L" shape while upright.
4 Drill a small hole in the center of the top board to place the hook. Also drill one in the center of the bottom board between the end and the placement of the top board for another hook. Screw the hooks into both holes until tight.
5 Sand the 3x3 piece of wood down in the center. Create a concave curve in the center only to place the food in. The depth of the curve is based on personal preference, but make sure it's deep enough to hold the food you'll be using.
6 Affix the holder to the top board at the opposite end of the hinge. Drill through the center into the second board until it's secure.
7 Put a rubber strap with looped ends around each hook. The strap should be about 8 to 10 inches in length and a standard width (usually 2 inches) to create tension.
8 Weigh the front end of the catapult down with something heavy or by drilling it into the ground. You may need to do the same for the rear end based on the weight of the food you'll be hurling. Pull down on the top board when ready and load it.

The catapult was first described by the Greek historian Diodorus in the first century B.C. Greeks were the first to use catapults; they made them using a similar design as the crossbow. The catapults we are most familiar with today, however, date back to medieval times and were used to break down castle walls. Some of these catapults used a triangular construction, and you can create a similar design with Popsicle sticks to simulate this dangerous weapon.

Instructions

1 Place two Popsicle sticks on top of each other and line them up. Tape them together. Create five more similar groupings of two Popsicle sticks taped together.
2 Tape three of the groupings together at their ends to form a triangle. Lay the triangle flat on an even surface.
3 Tape one end of one grouping of Popsicle sticks to one of the points on the triangle that is laying flat. When finished, this stick grouping should be attached and standing above the point on the triangle that is laying flat, but you should be able to move it an inch to either side. Attach the other two groupings to the two other points on the triangle laying flat in a similar way.
4 Bring the opposite ends of the Popsicle stick groupings together in the center above the triangle laying down. Tape these ends together. You'll now have a three-dimensional triangle in front of you.
5 Lay two Popsicle sticks down on a flat surface. Place them end-to-end so that they form a straight line. Place a third Popsicle stick across the two Popsicle sticks lengthwise. This third Popsicle stick will act as a brace to hold the two Popsicle sticks together. Tape the three sticks together to form a strong catapult arm.
6 Apply glue to the underside of the mini cupcake cup and attach the cup a half-inch away from one end of the arm. This cup is the projectile holder.
7 Pass the catapult arm through the middle of the triangular structure. Lead with the end that does not have the projectile holder attached to it. Tape this end of the arm to the area on the structure where three Popsicle stick bundles come together at the base.
8 Tie or tape about a half-inch of the elastic band to the top point of the triangular structure. Orient the elastic band so that it can be reached by the end of the catapult arm with the projectile holder.
9 Wrap the opposite side of the elastic band around the catapult arm just underneath the projectile holder.
10 Place a projectile in the holder, pull the catapult arm down and let it go. The projectile will fly through the air.

One of the many good thing about catapults is that you can build them out of almost anything. A piece of wood the right shape will do, or bits or metal pipe. However the advantage of using a hanger is that they can almost always be found easily and can bent into shape without any particular difficulty. A catapult of this sort will do very well for shooting paper balls around or even launching small stones at tins cans for a bit of target practice.

Instructions

1 Saw the hook of the top of the hanger. File off the point if you leave one to be sure you won't snag yourself on it later.
2 Pull the hanger out into a square, pulling at the point where the hook was and the flat, bottom length of the hanger. Put your hand around the angle where the hook was and squish the lengths of wire on either side of the angle together.
3 Use the pliers to twist these two lengths of wire together into a helix. Do not twist too tightly, the loops in the helix should be about wide enough to slide a pencil through. Twist up enough of the two wires to make a handle large enough for your hand. You will still have a square of wire at the top of the handle.
4 Squash the square flat towards the handle so that the hanger forms a "T" shape. Twist the two arms of the T in the same way as the handle. Bend the twisted arms upward so that the the T becomes a "Y."
5 Tie a knot in the middle of the elastic band, forming two loops. Tie the ends of the elastic band around the loops at the tip of each arm of the Y.
6 Wrap the handle up in a strip of rag. Hold it in place with another elastic band. Place an object on the knot in the middle of the elastic band, pull back and fire.

Any device designed to hurl a payload a given distance is a catapult. Trebuchets, onagers and ballistae are subclasses of siege engines traditionally known as catapults. Attackers used siege engines to attack enemies fortified behind heavy walls or other defenses. Battering rams, siege towers, onagers and ballistae allowed attackers to assault defenders from a distance or to penetrate walls with minimal threat to their forces.

Onager

An onager operates on simple spring technology. A long flexible wooden or metal arm is firmly fastened on one end to a carriage or other mobile platform. At the other end, a large bowl-shaped receptacle holds the ammunition. A crank with lengths of rope attached pulls the arm down, bending it until it resembles a large arc. When the rope is released, the energy stored in the bent arm launches the rock, flaming object or other payload at the defenders.

Trebuchet

The design of a trebuchet is more complex than a simple catapult. A trebuchet relies on a counterweight to drive the arm of the siege engine. Instead of a large receptacle, a trebuchet employs a sling to carry and hurl the payload. The counterweight swings down through the frame of the trebuchet as the sling, attached to the long arm, gathers speed. At the top of the arc, the sling hurls the payload at the defenders.

Ballista

A ballista resembles a giant crossbow. Ballistae launched large arrows or darts, rather than rocks and boulders, and were used both on ships and on land. Warships with mounted ballistae fired flaming ironclad arrows or bolts at the hulls and sails of opposing ships.

Drawbacks of the Siege Engine

Lack of mobility made catapults suitable for attacks against fortified locations or emplacements but not against moving armies. These were large and heavy devices that required many people and animals to move them into place. In some cases, the devices were built on the spot. The advent of gunpowder and cannons, with their smaller footprints and higher mobility, made catapults obsolete as siege weapons.

Catapults provide great fun for kids, providing they are used sensibly. The kids can set up a target in the back yard and practice their firing techniques with their friends. Its a great way to spend a few hours during the afternoon. Some catapults can be quite complex, using levers and springs, but a simple form of catapult, often referred to as a slingshot, is quick and easy to make using some wood from a tree and a couple of rubber bands.

Instructions

1 Find a tree that has a branch without leaves on it. The wood you use for the kids' catapult needs to be fairly dry, but not so dry that it's brittle.
2 Locate a branch that has a shape like the letter "Y." You can find this shape where two branches split.
3 Cut the branch about 4 inches below where the two branches split. Use a small hand saw to carefully cut through the branch. This part forms the handle of the catapult.
4 Cut the two branches that form the V part from the handle about 3 inches above where they are joined to the handle. Use a hand saw and make sure that the two branches that form the V are exactly the same length.
5 Use a knife and cut a small, V-shaped notch from the outside edge of the two branches forming the V shape. You need to cut the notch about 1/2 inch down from the top of the V shape. The notches will hold the rubber bands in place.
6 Cut out a 2-by-2-inch square from a sheet of flexible plastic using a knife. The lid from an ice cream container is good. This is the slingshot part of the catapult.
7 Cut two 1/4-inch slits centrally in the square of plastic, but about 1/2 inch apart from each other using a knife. Slide a thick 1/4-inch rubber band through one slit and then through the other slit; if you only have thin bands then use two or three. Place the plastic square in the center of the bands.
8 Place the rubber band over one of the notches and then stretch the bands using your fingers, so you can put the other side of the band over the other notch.
9 Hold the catapult in one hand and place the item you intend to fire centrally on the square of plastic using the other hand. Pull the plastic backward while keeping the catapult in the same place. Aim and then let go of the square of plastic.

Making a miniature catapult out of a rat trap is a fun project. There are many variations on how to make a rat trap catapult, from the extremely simple to the ridiculously elaborate, so you can have fun making your own model at any level. Despite the small size, rat trap catapults pack a surprising amount of force and power with each throw.

Instructions

1 Cut out the 10-by-10-inch base from the one-half-inch plywood with a saw. Sand the edges and corners of the base until they are smooth. Paint the surface of the base if you want.
2 Remove the projectile arm and the bait holder from a rat trap by pulling it off with the pliers. Discard these pieces; you will not need them anymore. Keep the spring mechanism on the rat trap.
3 Place the lever spring mechanism in the relaxed position. Tape the plastic spoon in a downward position to one side of the lever arm. Use plenty of duct tape so that the spoon is securely fastened to the metal.
4 Screw the rat trap onto the large wooden base. Place the screws in areas where they will not interfere with the spoon, the lever or the spring mechanism.
5 Hammer a nail into the wooden base on the side. This nail will be used to wrap the string around to hold the catapult down in the loaded position.
6 Tie a piece of string to the lever mechanism in the center. Use the string to pull the lever back so the spoon is now facing up. Loop the string around the nail to keep the catapult in the loaded position.
7 Hammer the eraser to the rat trap base right under the position that the lever arm will slam into once the string is released. The eraser allows the lever arm to be angled in the proper trajectory.
8 Place the projectile on the spoon and release the string. Watch the projectile fly.

Catapults are an old-fashioned war device that was designed to launch objects over the walls of a fort or castle. If you are teaching children about Medieval history, make the lessons more exciting by having the kids create their own catapults out of craft supplies. Use them to launch small objects, such as paper balls, coins or erasers, across the classroom when the children finish building the catapults.

Instructions

1 Arrange three craft sticks into a triangle on a table top and tape the sticks together with duct tape at the corners. Make all of the craft sticks the same length and position them flat against the table before taping them.
2 Repeat this process two more times so that you have three craft stick triangles.
3 Tape together two of the triangles along one edge. This allows the triangle pair to open like a book.
4 Open the triangle pair to a 60-degree angle and slide the third triangle into the opening perpendicularly. Rest the third triangle flat against the table as you insert it between the other two. Tape the triangles together at all abutting sides.
5 Place a singular craft stick into the corner where all of the triangles meet and tape it into place so that the craft stick rests at a 120-degree angle.
6 Wrap a rubber band around the craft stick and the top of the triangular structure.
7 Tape a small paper cup, bottom down, onto the end of the singular craft stick. Place an object into the paper cup. When you pull it back and release it, the object flies across the room.

In medieval wars, the catapult was one of the great equalizers when enemy forces locked themselves inside castle walls. Able to hurl stones over high castle walls, a catapult provided an early means of bombarding a town or fortress. You can build a working small-scale catapult model to add to your home arsenal.

Instructions

1 Cut two balsa wood blocks to 5 inches long and two others to 6 inches long. Lay them in a square. Tap two nails into each corner to secure the parts. This is the catapult base.
2 Stand two 6-inch balsa blocks vertically on one side of the catapult base. Hammer two nails through the bottom of the base and into each vertical block. Brace the free ends of the two vertical blocks by adding another horizontal block between them. Hammer two nails into each joint where the blocks meet. This will be the catapult front.
3 Cut a dowel to fit between the two vertical beams of the catapult front. Set it between the beams, about halfway between top and bottom, and secure it with one nail through the center of each end. This is the catapult pivot.
4 Cut two 5-inch balsa blocks. Use the whittling knife to cut the block ends to 45-degree angles. Fit the blocks on the catapult sides so that they brace the catapult front's vertical beams. The braces should be at approximately 45 degrees. Hammer two nails into each end of both braces.
5 Cut a 7-inch balsa wood block. Whittle a concave "cup" into one end of the block. Hammer a nail into the block just in front of the cup. Use the needle-nose pliers to bend the nail into a hook shape, pointing toward the cup. This is the catapult arm.
6 Attach the catapult arm to the pivot on the front of the catapult with a nail. Loop a rubber band around the front's top brace, then attach the other end to the hook on the catapult arm. You should be able to pull the arm down and launch a marble or similar small objects.

Creating small catapults is an exotic hobby that many people enjoy. Use these catapults to play a game. This one requires three dart boards and marshmallows. The goal is to score points by launching the marshmallows at three dart boards. The dart board farthest away will be worth five points. The closest dart board will be worth one point. The middle dart board will be worth three points. You must score exactly 21 points. Go over by any amount and you will automatically go back to having 14 points. Each player fires twice per turn.

Instructions

1 Place a dart board 15 feet away.
2 Set up another dart board 10 feet away.
3 Place a third dart board five feet away.
4 Place a marshmallow in your miniature catapult and fire it at the dart boards.

Catapults are an ancient device that were used to hurl objects over castle walls or barricades. When teaching students about medieval or ancient history, it can be exciting to show them how to create their own catapult out of simple craft materials, such as paper towel rolls.

Instructions

1 Cut open 10 paper towel tubes vertically with scissors.
2 Roll each tube up again tightly, and tape it with masking tape. This will cause the rolls to be more sturdy and they won't bend when you launch objects with your catapult.
3 Tape the corners of three of the rolled tubes together so that they form a triangle.
4 Repeat this process two more times until you have three paper-towel-roll triangles.
5 Place two of the triangles together horizontally, and tape one of the sides.
6 Splay open the connected triangles, and insert the third triangle into the space that is opened up. This will create a paper-towel-roll pyramid.
7 Tape all of the sides of the pyramid.
8 Place the end of the remaining paper towel roll into one of the bottom corners of the pyramid. Tape it into place. This will allow the arm to remain attached to the structure, while enabling it to be moved backward in order to hurl an object.
9 Tape a small paper cup to the end of the paper towel tube arm with the cup facing upward.
10 Loop a rubber band around the paper towel arm with the cup.
11 Loop the same rubber band around the top of the pyramid.
12 Tape the bottom pyramid to an 18-inch square of cardboard in order to stabilize it during use.
13 Place an object into the paper cup, pull the cup back, and release the cup to launch the object into the air.

In the ancient and medieval periods, catapults were used as siege weapons, capable of hurling projectiles such as boulders, flaming barrels of pitch or even beehives at enemy fortifications and cities. There were several types of catapult, some of which used counterweights and others that used torsion to store potential energy. Because the mechanical principles of the torsion catapult are simple, it's easy to make a small-scale replica that resembles the original and really works.

Instructions

1 Cut parts for your catapult out of wooden rod and sheet using a craft knife or saw. You will need two long sections to form the base of the catapult, a throwing arm and five short sections. You will also need two triangular supports cut from a flat wooden panel. The throwing arm should be five-sixths of the length of the base pieces. If your base pieces are a foot long, for example, the arm should be 10 inches. The short sections should be half the length of the arm, and the triangular supports should be slightly taller than one of the short sections.
2 Scrape the wooden sections with a wire brush to weather them. You may wish to stain them to give them a darker appearance.
3 Attach a short section to one of the base pieces at right angles. The upright should be a short distance from the forward edge of the base piece. Use wood glue to hold the upright in place. Repeat this process for both base sections.
4 Screw or nail a triangular support to both the upright and the base section, connecting them and adding extra rigidity. Again, do this for both base pieces.
5 Glue two short sections between the base pieces. They should be attached to the underside of the bases at the front and rear.
6 Insert the final short section as a crossbar by gluing it to the rear of both uprights at the top.
7 Drill a hole in the base sections. The hole should be as large as you can make it without damaging the base. Position the hole slightly to the rear of the uprights, and make sure the two holes are aligned.
8 Drill a hole in the end of the throwing arm. It can be smaller than the holes in the base piece.
9 Cut a length of string or twine. The exact length will vary depending on the thickness of the string and the size of the catapult. A foot-long catapult can need up to 30 feet of string. Tie a length of heavy wire, like coat hanger wire, to the end of the string.
10 Tie the opposite end of the string to a length of dowel. Using the wire like a needle, thread the string first through the hole in one base piece, then through the hole in the arm, then out of the hole in the opposite base piece. Wrap the string around another length of dowel and thread it back through the hole, repeating the process in reverse.
11 Repeat this process until the string is used up or can no longer fit through the holes. After the first three or four passes, you no longer need to thread the string through the hole in the arm. Instead, pass it behind the base of the arm on the first pass, then in front of it on the return until the arm is wrapped tightly between two layers of string.
12 Build a basket to hold your projectile, using scrap wood or cardboard. You can glue or pin this to the upper surface of the head end of the throwing arm.
13 Insert a screw hook into the head end of the throwing arm. Insert hooks into the base pieces so that they line up, then depress the throwing arm and run a length of wire through all three hooks. To launch the catapult, load the projectile into the basket and pull the wire out.

The ancient Greeks used catapults to hurl projectiles, such as large rocks, at their enemies. The most simple catapult requires two mechanical parts: a lever and a spring. You can make your own catapult out of a paper clip and other office supplies you probably have in your desk -- even if it will not fire a stone over a rampart, Use it to fling wads of paper at an opponent or to teach a child about levers and springs.

Instructions

1 Look at the paper clip. Each clip has an outer loop of wire and an inner loop of wire that is formed with an end of the wire. Grasp the top of the loop of the inner ring and pull it out so that it stands at about a 45-degree angle from the outer ring. The large loop forms the base of your catapult while the smaller loop makes the arm.
2 Bend a holder into the catapult. Arrange the paper clip so that you look at it with the arm in the air and pointed away from you. Grasp the end of the wire that forms the inner loop with needle-nosed pliers. Bend it 90 degrees inward to close the loop. Now grasp the wire halfway between the bend you just made and the top of the loop. Bend it toward you so that a section of wire in the shape of an "L" stands away from the arm. This forms the frame for your projectile holder.
3 Cut a strip of cardboard slightly wider than your paperclip catapult and about half the length of its base. Bend the strip of cardboard in half lengthwise, then place it so that it rests on the frame for your projectile holder. Half of the strip should rest along the top part of the arm, while the other half should rest on the "L" shaped piece of metal that sticks out from the arm. If cardboard is unavailable, you can use a piece of plastic or a strip of tape folded over on itself with the sticky side on the inside of the fold.
4 Attach the cardboard strip to the catapult with two strips of tape. Use one strip to attach it to the top of the arm of the catapult and one strip to attach it to the frame for the projectile holder. Place a projectile, such as a wad of paper, in the projectile holder and hold down the base of the catapult. Pull back the arm toward the base; then release it to fire your new catapult.

A torsion catapult, or mangonel, is a type of catapult used frequently in Medieval siege warfare. The mangonel works by twisting up a rope as tight as possible on the end of a throwing arm. When the torsion in the rope is released, the throwing arm shoots whatever it is holding with great speed and power.

Rope Spring Power

The torsion catapult was invented by the ancient Greeks around 300 BC. The torsion catapult is based on the concept of the rope spring -- a rope coiled so tightly that it produces tremendous power when released. A torsion catapult looks much like any other type of catapult, with a throwing arm attached to a large base to provide stability and a large wooden beam to stop the throwing arm so that it shoots the projectile rather than slamming into the ground. Between the two sides of the catapult base is a length of rope, which can be wound tighter and tighter by a winch. This is what provides the torsion for the catapult.

Effectiveness

Although they had actually been invented centuries before by either the Greeks, torsion catapults or mangonels were not widely used in early Medieval warfare. Their first known use in England was in the Siege of Dover in 1216. From this point on, however, they were widely used. A mangonel was extremely powerful, capable of hurling a rock the size of a human head at the speed of 100 mph and for distances of up to 1,300 feet.

Projectiles

The mangonel was generally used to throw large rocks but could also be used to throw a wide variety of other items, depending on the ingenuity of the user and the availability of materials. Hot sand, when thrown, would find its way between the gaps in the armor of a defending knight. Diseased corpses could be hurled to spread infection in the enemy camp -- an early form of biological warfare. Burning tar could be thrown as a medieval equivalent of napalm.

Disadvantages

The torsion catapult did have some disadvantages. If the rope spring got too wet, it wouldn't work, so any day of heavy rain could earn the defenders of a besieged castle a day of respite from the attacks of the mangonel. In addition, the accuracy of any siege weapon depends on determining a precise range from which to shoot. However, the mangonel didn't shoot with consistent power because no one could be certain to put the exact same amount of torsion on the rope each time it was used. The mangonel would not be effective at consistently striking the exact same target such as a particular tower in a castle.

In the era before the use of gunpowder weaponry made them obsolete, castles formed the indispensable heart of warfare in Europe. Their construction was one of the primary expenses of any government, and no warlord could be successful without the skill and technical know-how to be successful at siege warfare. One of the primary goals of siege warfare was to break down the stone walls of the castle. For this purpose, large mechanical devices were constructed to fling stones at the high walls. Among the most successful of these was the trebuchet, a type of catapult, which used the power of a falling weight to swing the throwing arm from which the projectile would be propelled. A small model of a trebuchet will provide a look into the rich history of Medieval Europe.

Instructions

1 Cut two 1.5-foot lengths and two 2-foot lengths of 1-by-2 lumber. Lay one of the 2-foot lengths on your work surface with the 1-inch side facing down. Lay another parallel to it so that the outside faces of the two pieces are 1.5 feet apart. Apply glue to their ends and link them together at the ends with the 1.5-foot pieces to form a 2- by 1.5-foot rectangle. This will be the base of the trebuchet model. Hammer a finishing nail into each joint, and attach a pair of bar clamps to hold the parts together as the glue dries. Allow this assembly to dry before removing the clamps and continuing.
2 Cut two 2-foot lengths of 1-by-2. These will be the support columns that hold up the arm of the trebuchet. Use wood glue and nails to fix them to the insides of the 2-foot base sides halfway between the narrow ends of the base. Clamp the support columns in place with spring clamps. Cut two more 1-by-2 segments long enough to connect the 2-foot sides of the base together. Glue or nail the pieces to the inside of the base on either side of the support columns, which helps to hold the support columns upright. Viewed from above, the base should be a rectangle with its long sides connected together by four lengths of wood -- the two at the ends and the two that are helping hold the support columns in place. Use clamps to hold all the pieces in place as the glue dries. Allow the glue to dry before removing the clamps and continuing.
3 Cut four lengths of 1-by-2 long enough to connect the corners of the base with the support columns at a point 1 inch below their tops. These diagonal pieces will help keep the support columns from shifting forward and back when the arm of the trebuchet swings. Each piece should start at a corner, rising to meet the support column on the same side of the base as the corner from which it originated. Cut the ends at a diagonal so they can meet at the tops of the support columns; don't extend below the bottom of the base in the corners. Fix them in place with glue and a single nail at each end, and clamp them until the glue dries.
4 Drill a 3/8-inch hole in the top of each support column centered 1/2 inch from the top. These holes should allow a dowel to connect the two sides of the model together, forming the pivot for the arm of the trebuchet. Cut a 1.5-foot length of 3/8-inch dowel to serve as the pivot.
5 Cut a 3-foot length of 1-by-2. This will be the arm of the trebuchet. Drill one 3/8-inch hole through the 2-inch side of the arm, 1 foot from one end of the arm, and two 1/4-inch holes 1/2 inch in from each end of the arm. The larger hole will be where the pivot goes through, and you will use the smaller ones to attach the weight that pulls the arm and the sling that throws the projectile.
6 Cut out a 3- by 12-inch section of strong cloth (nylon will do well) to make the sling. Cut a 2-inch line in the middle of one of the 3-inch sides to make two "tails" on the sling. Tie these through the hole in the end of the arm that is 2 feet from the pivot. Hammer a nail into this end of the arm so that 3/4 inch of the nail projects from the end surface. Use wire clippers to cut the head off the nail, so that it is a smooth shaft. Cut a small hole in the far end of the sling, which will fit over the nail.
7 Attach the arm by putting the dowel (pivot) through one of the support columns, then the hole in the arm, then the other support column, so that an equal amount of excess dowel projects from each support column.
8 Cut a 1- by 1-foot section of fabric to use as a pouch for the weight. Cut a hole in each of the four corners. Place the weight (a brick or pile of fishing weights works well) on the center of the fabric and gather it up around the weight. Cut a piece of string, and push the end of it through the holes in the corners of the cloth. Put the other end of the string through the hole in the end of the arm that doesn't have the sling attached to it, and tie the two ends together.
9 Cut a 4-inch by 2-foot section of cardboard and position it so that it runs on top of the base components down the center of the long axis of the model. Staple it in place.
10 Fire the trebuchet: first push the end of the sling with the hole in it down over the end of the nail at the end of the arm. Holding the sling-end of the arm down near the ground, place a stone, marble or other projectile in the sling and lay the sling on the cardboard strip running down the middle of the frame. When you let go of the arm, the weight should pull its end down while the other end flings the projectile. If the sling lets go of the projectile too soon (the projectile flies in too high of an arc or even backwards), bend the nail forward slightly. If it releases too late (the projectile flies too low or strikes the ground immediately), bend it back.

Catapults were often used in medieval times as a form of weapon in battle. These weapons allowed warriors to fire upon their opponents from further away or to launch projectile weapons over high castle walls. While catapults are no longer needed for the purpose of fighting a battle, you can create your own model catapult to show how the original weapons worked. One of the ways you can build your own catapult is to use a metal hanger and spoon to launch your projectile.

Instructions

1 Cut the wire hanger at one of the bottom corners. Make a second cut next to the curved hanger portion at the top. Make the second cut on the side of the curved portion away from where you made the first cut. This removes one entire side of the triangle, as well as the curved hanger.
2 Set the flat bottom portion of the wire hanger on the piece of cardboard or wood to serve as the base. The angled portion of the wire hanger should be facing up. Tape the wire hanger to the base with duct tape.
3 Position the spoon along the angled portion of the wire hanger so the spoon extends beyond the cut end of the hanger with the spoon portion facing toward the ceiling away from the wire piece. The handle of the spoon and the wire should overlap. Tape the spoon into place by wrapping duct tape around the spoon handle and wire.

A catapult, or trebuchet, uses a counterweight to fling a stone or rock. The catapult has a long arm with a heavy weight on one end and a sling on the other. The weight falls, pulling the other end of the arm up. The sling rotates around the catapult vertically, going over the top of the catapult. One end of the sling unhooks from the arm and the rock is thrown down range. Loading and firing a catapult should be done safely.

Instructions

1 Aim the catapult by sighting along the trough or tray where the sling rests and point it toward the target. Catapults must be aimed using two components: direction and range. Sighting along the tray will give you the direction. Range must be determined by trial and error.
2 Calculate the range of the throw. Catapults have an ability to throw rocks high and short or midway and long. The angle of the peg and the length of the sling determine the trajectory of the throw. Bending the peg toward the back of the catapult will result in a late release of the weight, which means the rock will be thrown low and short. Bending the peg away from the back will give the shooter a high, short shot which will drop down on the target. It might also send the stone straight up or backward. Beginning users of the catapult should always use the neutral setting of the peg. This produces a shot that leaves the sling at a consistent 45-degree angle.
3 Arm the catapult. Pull the long arm of the catapult down and hook it into the trigger attached to the frame. Ancient catapults used horses or men walking inside large barrels like those used by hamsters for exercise to pull the arm down.
4 Load the catapult. Place the rock or other object in the sling and lay it down along the trough. Hook the end of the sling onto the peg or notch at the end of the long portion of the arm.
5 Pull the trigger and watch the rock slide along the trough and gain speed as it is lifted in the air and flies down range.

Making a rat-trap catapult is not just an inexpensive and entertaining project that you can do with your kids, but an opportunity for an impromptu physics lesson where you can explain about motion, forces, levers and energy. The catapult will cost around $5 to make and take 10 to 15 minutes to construct. The kids can use marshmallows, screwed-up scraps of damp newspaper or pieces of candy as ammunition and have competitions to shoot the furthest and/or most accurately.

Instructions

1 Remove the trigger mechanism, which is to one side of the central spring, using pliers and a screwdriver, if you need one, to prise the mechanism away from the base. Also remove the trigger arm. This usually fixes across one half of the engaged trap to hold the square trap wire, or snapper, in place.
2 Pull the snapper up from the base and place a tongue depressor underneath its width. Adjust the depressor so that the side nearest the top of the snapper lies flush along the top wire. Centralize the tongue depressor so that equal lengths jut out on either side of the snapper and secure it in place with duct tape.
3 Take a second tongue depressor and tape it so that it vertically crosses the first one at the bottom and, when the snapper is vertical, this depressor is too. Use plenty of duct tape to firmly secure the construction.
4 Tape the handle of a plastic spoon along this depressor leaving its bowl jutting out above the top. The back of the spoon rests against the front of the depressor which faces away from the snapper. Use many layers of tightly wound duct tape to create a firm bond.
5 Pull the snapper back against the resistance of the spring using the sides of the horizontal depressor to help you. For maximum firepower, pull the construction back fully so that the snapper is in its usual position when the trap is engaged. Press down on the horizontal depressor while you load the spoon bowl with ammunition. Hold the rat-trap base flat on the work surface with one hand ensuring that it is not in the way of the firing mechanism. When you are satisfied, release the firing mechanism.

Catapults are devices used to hurl objects a great distance. They were invented by the Greeks, and used as effective war weapons against enemy fortifications throughout the Middle Ages. Catapults used a winch system to create tension in an arm holding a catapult basket. The basket was filled with stones and when the arm tension was released, the rocks would race toward a target at great speed. Modern-day replicas of catapults come in three basic designs with three unique basket types. If you already have your model catapult built, the time is right to add a basket in one of these three styles.

Instructions

1 Carve a bowl-shaped depression directly into the end of the catapult's throwing arm. The objects to be thrown can be placed inside this depression. This basket type is used for a fused-arm catapult where the basket and arm are made of one piece.
2 Attach a wide plastic, wood or metal bowl to the end of the throwing arm to create a catapult basket with greater capacity than the fused-arm catapult's depression basket. Drill through the bottom of the bowl and attach the bowl to the throwing arm with screws. Do not use nails or glue because nails will pull out over time and most glue won't hold, as the force generated by the catapult is considerable.
3 Assemble a sling out of sturdy cloth such as burlap or nylon. Cut the cloth into a square and cut holes about an inch from each of the four corners. Tie a piece of rope between the holes in the corners on one side of the cloth and tie another piece of rope between the holes in the corners on the other side of the cloth. The resulting creation will resemble a hammock. To use a sling basket on your catapult, the throwing arm must be altered. Insert a round dowel through the width of the throwing arm at its end. Hang the sling basket from this dowel. Secure the loops of the sling by using additional rope to tie the loops to the dowel.

Catapults have been used throughout history to launch heavy objects into an enemy's camp and hurl items long distances and over walls. Building your own catapult is a perfect science experiment for learning about tension and seeing firsthand the power that it can create. You can make a simple cotton ball catapult using some basic materials that you may already have in your home. Once you gather your materials, the entire process should take less than five minutes.

Instructions

1 Cut off the top of a small box. A long tissue box works well for a catapult. Just use a box cutter to remove the top of the box where the tissues come out, cutting right at the edges. Turn the box upside down. This will be the frame for your catapult.
2 Make a cut into the box just big enough to insert your spoon handle. The cut should be about 2 inches from one end of the box. Slide the tip of spoon handle into the box. Tape the spoon into place by turning the box on its side and wrapping masking tape around the tip of the handle inside the box. Then, wrap masking tape around the spoon handle outside of the box, just above the top of the box. This will keep the spoon from sliding down into the box as you use your catapult.
3 Attach two rubber bands to the spoon. Wrap each rubber band around the handle of the spoon and pull one end of the rubber band through the other end to hold it into place.
4 Attach the rubber bands to the box. You can either tape the rubber bands to the edge of the box on the outside, or you can cut small slits in the box right at the edge and tuck each rubber band into a hole. Place your slits about 1 inch to either side of the spoon. Pull each rubber band so that it gives just enough slack for the spoon to stand upright. Tape the rubber bands to the box. If you have made slits in the box and tucked the rubber bands in, you will be taping them to the inside of the box.
5 Launch a cotton ball. Just place a cotton ball on the spoon, pull it back until it nearly touches the box and release. You have made your very own cotton ball catapult.

Catapults are mechanisms that were widely used in medieval warfare to attack and defend. They were originally constructed to hurl missiles, such as spears, but were later used to throw large stones and pots of boiling oil at the enemy. Catapults have even been used in modern times to launch aircraft from warships. Making a model catapult with your child can be an enjoyable way to help him understand this piece of history -- while launching golf balls instead of boulders.

Instructions

1 Smooth the edges of the block of wood and the small cube of wood with the sandpaper.
2 Lay the larger piece of wood on one of its 2-inch sides, then glue the clothespin to the wood lengthwise, making sure the clothespin is centered. Allow it to dry.
3 Glue the 1-inch wood cube to the top of the open end of the clothespin, making sure the cube is centered. Allow it to dry.
4 Glue the jumbo craft stick to the wood cube, matching one end of the craft stick to the edge of the cube that is closest to the closed end of the clothespin. Allow it to dry.
5 Glue the bottle cap flat side down to the top of the craft stick at the end not affixed to the wood cube. Leave enough room at the end of the craft stick so you're able to push it down. Allow the glue to dry completely.
6 Place a golf ball in the bottle cap, push down on the craft stick, and fire your new medieval war machine.

When you are learning about ancient machines, such as catapults, it can be difficult to picture how these machines actually worked and functioned. This can cause your understanding of the machines to be limited. One solution is to construct a model of a catapult that you can use to launch objects across your room. You can even construct a basic catapult using a few different recyclables that you have lying around your house.

Instructions

1 Heat up a hot glue stick inside of a hot glue gun for five minutes by plugging it into a wall outlet.
2 Place an empty, clean soda can horizontally onto a tabletop.
3 Squeeze a dime-sized dollop of hot glue onto the middle of the soda can, then press a craft stick vertically onto the hot glue dollop. Position the craft stick so that the end is pressed onto the hot glue and the length of the stick extends up from the can. Allow the hot glue to cool for five minutes, then turn over the can.
4 Squeeze a pea-sized dollop of hot glue onto the end of the craft stick that is extending up from the can, and place the flat end of a bamboo skewer onto the dollop. Position the skewer so that it falls back against the can in a 60-degree angle. Allow the hot glue to cool for five minutes.
5 Squeeze a pea-sized dollop of hot glue onto the extended end of the bamboo skewer, then press a paper cup onto the hot glue dollop. Position the paper cup so that it is facing upward. Allow the hot glue to cool for five minutes.
6 Place an object into the cup, hold onto the can with your hand, pull back the cup and release to launch the object through the air.

Making a model of a catapult is a creative way to embrace Greek history. Developed in 400 B.C. during the Dionysius Empire, according to Smith College, the catapult represented a major weapon of war that hurled large and heavy objects long distances toward enemy targets. Creating a paper mache model catapult is ideal for children and beginner art students since the medium is inexpensive and flexible, highly suitable for craft making. Show off the model as a mantelpiece or art project, or during a Greek history festival.

Instructions

1 Place two 2 x 2 x 6-inch Styrofoam catapult base bars onto a work surface. Adjust the bars so they're parallel with one another and the six-inch edges are facing you.
2 Measure one inch toward center from the left edge of each bar. Carve a 1/4 x 1/2 inch hole the center of one each bar at this point. Insert a 1/2 x 1/2 x 3-inch Styrofoam cylinder rod into each hole to connect the bars. The bars and rod should now form a letter "U" shape.
3 Bond three 2 x 2 x 3-inch Styrofoam catapult frame pieces together with permanent epoxy to form a "U" shape. Bond the short ends of the 2 x 2 x 3-inch "U" to the top left side of the catapult bars with permanent epoxy.
4 Measure one inch toward center from the right edge of the near catapult bar. Carve a 1/2-inch-wide hole through the long sides of the near catapult bar at this point with a craft knife. Carve a 1/4 x 1/2 inch hole into the inner long side of the far catapult bar. Insert a 1/2 x 1/2 x 5-inch Styrofoam cylinder rod through the hole in the near catapult bar and into the hole in the far side car. The 1/2 x 1/2 x 5-inch rod acts as a winch for the catapult.
5 Bond the short end of a plastic spoon to the center of the right side 3-inch cylinder foam rod with permanent epoxy. The body of the catapult is now complete.
6 Boil five cups of water and one cup of flour in a pot for three minutes to create a paper mache mix. Allow five minutes for the mix to cool and then pour it into a bowl.
7 Soak a 1 x 5-inch newspaper strip in the mix. Press the strip into the body of the catapult. Continue until the entire catapult is covered in one layer of newspaper.
8 Soak a 1 x 5 inch paper towel strip into the mix. Press the strip into the body of the catapult. Continue until the entire catapult is covered in one layer of paper towel. Allow three hours for the craft to dry.
9 Coat the catapult with brown acrylic paint to emulate the wood used by Greek military personnel to build real catapults. Allow two hours for the craft to dry.
10 Wrap an eight-inch string one time around the neck of the spoon beneath the wide head. Bond the short ends of the string to the five-inch winch rod. Twist the winch rod until the string is wound and the spoon is laying flat. Explain to observers that after the catapult was wound tight, a heavy object was placed onto the "spoon-like" head. The winch was released and sent the spoon flying upward to a 90-degree angle, launching the object into the air.

Early catapults first appeared on the battlefield back in 300 A.D. The basic catapult design has stayed the same over the centuries, and is still used today in aircraft carrier launchers. Handheld catapults are fairly simple to make and can easily fit in the palm of your hand.

Instructions

1 Prepare the Popsicle sticks. Cut three Popsicle sticks into 2-inch lengths. Cut six Popsicle sticks into 4-inch lengths. Cut one Popsicle stick into a 4-inch length with one rounded end, Cut one Popsicle stick into a 3-inch length with one rounded end.
2 Build the base. Tape two 4-inch sticks and two 2-inch pieces together end to end--short, long, short, long. Fold the Popsicle stick line into a rectangle and tape the open ends together. Tape a 2-inch Popsicle stick to the inside of one of the 2-inch sticks in the rectangle for reinforcement. Use plenty of tape on either end but none on the center of the stick.
3 Tape two 4-inch Popsicle stick together side by side. Tape another pair of 4-inch Popsicle sticks side by side. Tape one pair of taped 4-inch sticks to the top of your rectangle, covering the rectangle at one side. Tape another pair of 4-inch sticks to the top of the rectangle on the other side, leaving a gap in the middle. Reinforce the corners of your base with tape.
4 Build the hinge of the catapult and the arm. Tape one end of the rubber band to the rounded end of one 3-inch Popsicle stick. Reinforce with tape. Inset the stick with the rubber band into the base of your catapult. It should slide neatly in the side of the rectangle with two Popsicle sticks. Use a small screwdriver to open up the gap to make the stick fit in there. The stick should be able to stand up on its own with the end of the rubber band dangling down.
5 Cut four pieces of tape about 2 inches long and stick them together so you have a thick layer of tape. Cut the tape lengthwise. Use the side of a Popsicle stick as a guide to mark two lines in the center of the twp pieces of tape. Tape one piece of marked tape to the flat end of a 4-inch Popsicle stick. Position the Popsicle stick so that the flat end meets the first of the two lines. Stick the other pieces of marked tape to the other side of the stick. Pinch the free ends of tape together and secure the marked tape to the stick with more tape.
6 Assemble the catapult. Tape the catapult arm in the center with the hinge facing the catapult. Do not place tape between the two lines in the middle. Tape the end of the rubber band to the catapult arm. Without any tension the rubber band should sit at a 45 degree angle.
7 Make the catapult cup. Cut a piece of paper into a 2-by-2 inch square. Fold the sides in about 1/2 inch on each side, then tape up the corners to form a square cup. Tape the cup to the catapult arm. It should be close to the end, with enough room for your finger to press the catapult.

You might need a catapult to destroy the action figures you've fortified in a Lincoln Log castle, or to lighten the mood during a late day at the office by lobbing paper clips into a friend's cubicle. Whatever the reason, they are easy to make using tools you've more than likely got lying around the house.

Instructions

1 Make a rectangle measuring 10 inches by 4 inches using two long and two shorter wood strips. Hammer a nail into each of the rectangle's four corners, going through one strip of wood and into the other. This will form the base of the catapult.
2 Make a 3-sided square with 4-inch strips of wood. Nail the two corners together.
3 Raise the three-sided square vertically from the catapult's horizontal base. With the missing side facing down against the catapult's base, nail the 4-inch vertical sides into the horizontal base 3 inches from the base's corners. Ultimately, this vertical structure will stop the catapult's arm.
4 Place a 5-inch strip of wood diagonally between the catapult's base and the top side of the vertical arm-stop. This strip of wood should be nailed to the midpoint of the 4-inch side of the base, 3 inches from the arm-stop uprights. Nail the other end of the diagonal strip to the midpoint of the arm-stop crossbar. This will strengthen the arm-stop so it won't fall over when hit by the moving arm. If you look at the catapult from the side, you should now have a right triangle with a 3-inch horizontal bottom, a 4-inch vertical height and a 5-inch diagonal hypotenuse.
5 Drill a hole through the remaining 10-inch strip of wood. This will be the catapult's arm. This hole should be larger than the diameter of the 5-inch screw so that the arm can rotate freely around the screw. The hole should be 1 inch from the tip of the strip.
6 Screw the 5-inch screw through one of the arm-stop's uprights. This should be done 1.5 inches from the catapult's base. Then run the screw through the hole in the catapult's arm and continue to drive the screw into the other upright. You should now have a base, an arm-stop and an arm that pivots.
7 Nail a small cup to the tip of the catapult's arm.
8 Screw a wire eye lag (a.k.a screw eye) into the base of the catapult just below diagonal arm-stop support. Screw your other wire eye lag into the side of the arm that will hit the arm-stop. Screw this lag in just below the cup.
9 Run a rubber band from one wire eye lag over the arm-stop to the other wire eye lag. The rubber band should be small enough that it forces the arm to stand upright.
10 Insert a projectile into the cup. Pull the arm back from the arm-stop until it rests horizontally against the base of the catapult. Release the arm and the rubber band should snap it upward, into the arm-stop, and fling your projectile out of the cup.

Catapults were created as war machines to break walls of castles. A catapult is a mechanical lever that tosses an object, such as a rock, in an arc at a target. To make your own catapult that can be triggered with an electronic switch, purchase supplies from a hobby store or electronics shop. Tools and supplies found in the home will be needed as well.

Instructions

Construct the Catapult

1 Bend one end of a metal strip up to form a hook shape. Place the wood block on the table. Hold the metal strip vertically so the hook is at the top and bent toward you. Place the unbent end of the metal strip on the block near the edge closest to you.
2 Hammer a nail through the strip at one end into the wood. Hammer a nail through the strip at the other end into the wood.
3 Turn the block around. Pull the hooked end of the strip toward you until it touches the wood. Make a dot with a pencil where the strip touches the wood. Release the strip.

Electromagnet Switch

4 Measure 24 inches of wire from the wire spool. Cut the spool at the 24-inch mark with a wire cutter. Measure 8 inches from an end of the wire and make a dot with a pencil. Measure another 8 inches on the wire and make another dot.
5 Wrap the wire around the head of the nail at the 8-inch mark closest to one end of the wire. Wind the wire down to the point and back up again until you come to the other mark on the wire. Wrap strips of cellophane tape around the nail to hold the wire in place.
6 Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from each end of the wire with a wire stripper.
7 Apply a line of bonding glue to one side of the nail. Place the nail horizontally on the block against the dot that was made on it. Hold the nail against the block for a minute before letting go. Let the glue set overnight.
8 Wad a piece of paper into a ball. Place your catapult on the floor with the end that has the nail glued to it facing you. Place a battery on its side next to the catapult.
9 Tape the end of one of the wires to the bottom contact on the battery with a strip of cellophane tape. Tape the end of the other wire to one of the two contacts on the electronic switch.
10 Measure 10 inches from the end of the wire spool. Cut the wire at the 10-inch mark with the wire cutter. Strip 1/2-inch from each end of the wire with the wire stripper. Tape one of the two ends of the wire to the top of the battery with a strip of cellophane tape. Tape the other end of the wire to the other contact on the electronic switch.
11 Pull the metal strip toward you with your other hand. Press the end of the strip against the nail. Release the strip. Place the wadded up paper ball in the hook on the strip. Press the button on the switch to deactivate the electromagnet and release the strip so it can shoot the ball from your catapult.

Catapults are launching devices that have been used since the medieval era to launch everything from rocks to people to eggs. Regardless of the size of the catapult or the object being launched, the basic principles are the same: an object is placed on the end of a catapult arm and propelled into the air by the arm's movement. If you wish to build a simple, small sized catapult that can launch a hacky sack, you can do so in a few simple steps.

Instructions

Assembling the Frame

1 Cut three 12-inch pieces out of the 3/4-inch by 1/2-inch wood strips. Cut an additional seven 6-inch pieces out of the wood strips and use a protractor to cut the ends of two of these strips at a 45 degree angle.
2 Line one of the wood pieces with the angled edges up with one of the 12-inch pieces so that the two wood pieces form a 45 degree angle. The angled portion of the 6 -inch wood piece should be flush with the bottom edge of the 12-inch wood piece and positioned all the way at one end of the 12-inch wood piece. Secure the wood pieces together with wood glue and a 3/4 inch wood screw.
3 Place a non-angled 6-inch wood piece so that its edge is flush with the remaining angled end of the 6-inch wood piece you secured in Step 2 and its bottom end is flush with the bottom edge of the 12-inch wood piece it is secured to. Secure this 6-inch wood piece to both the 12-inch piece and the angled 6-inch piece with wood glue and 3/4-inch wood screws. This assembled piece will serve as the side support for the catapult.
4 Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to create another side support for the catapult.
5 Stand the two side supports side by side exactly 6 inches apart. Connect them together by placing two 6-inch wood pieces on the front (the end closest to the uprights) and back end of the side supports and securing them in place with wood glue and 3/4-inch wood screws. You will now have a rectangular frame that measures 6 inches by 12 inches.
6 Place the final 6-inch wood piece across the top of the frame's two uprights. Secure it in place with wood glue and 3/4-inch wood screws. This cross beam will stop the catapult arm when it is in motion and cause the catapult to launch the hacky sack.
7 Drill a 2mm hole through the sides of the frame's two uprights. Position the hole near the base of the uprights to allow the catapult arm full range of motion. Screw an eye-hook into the middle of the frame's front beam to finish the catapult frame.

Assembling the Arm

8 Cut off the top of a paper cup to create a small basket for the arm of the catapult. Screw the basket to the end of the remaining 12-inch wood piece with a 1/2 inch wood screw.
9 Screw a second eye-hook into the catapult arm directly below the paper cup you secured in Step 1.
10 Drill a hole through the side of the catapult arm at the opposite end with a 2-mm drill bit.

Assembling and using the Catapult

11 Cut an 8-inch section of wire clothes hanger. Insert the wire through the hole at the base of one upright, through the hole at the end of the catapult arm and finally through the hole at the base of the opposite upright (make sure the catapult basket is facing up when you do so). Bend the ends of the wire to hold the wire in place.
12 Attach one end of the rubber band to the eye-hook screwed into the catapult arm and the other end to the eye-hook screwed into the catapult frame.
13 Place the hacky sack in the catapult basket, pull back the catapult arm and release to launch the hacky sack into the air.