Play Catapult

Catapults were first used in ancient times to hurl an object with great speed for a far distance without the need for an explosive. Created by the Greeks, catapults have become an important weapon for the military. The name is derived from two Greek words-"kata" (downward) and "pultos" (a small circular battle shield). You can make your own catapult using materials found at home or at a nearby craft store. With some patience and concentration, you can be launching your own objects across the kitchen or in the backyard.

Instructions

1 Cut off ten pieces of masking tape. Put the pieces onto a table or nearby.
2 Take your ten popsicle sticks and cut them with scissors. You will need one stick that is four inches long with one rounded end and one stick that is three inches long with one rounded end. Six sticks need to measure four inches long with the rounded edges off. Three sticks should measure two inches long with the rounded edges off. Use a ruler and pencil to make sure the measurements are correct.
3 Tape together two of the two inch pieces and two of the four inch pieces four inch pieces end to end. It should look like one big long stick in this order: short, long, short, long.
4 Create a rectangle with your big stick and tape the ends together. Don't be shy with the tape.
5 Place a two inch stick on the inside of each short side of your rectangle and tape into place. Avoid placing any tape in the center.
6 Take two four inch sticks and tape them together side by side with plenty of tape at the ends. Repeat the process with two additional four inch sticks.
7 Tape the base and one of the pieces you just pieced together long end first. The outer stick on the left should line up with the end of the base lengthwise. Once you tape the long end, tape from the side. Repeat the process on the other side for the other set of four inch sticks. Your base is now complete.
8 Cut your rubber band so that it is five inches long. Tape it to the three inch stick, attaching it to the rounded end. Place that assembly into your base between the two pieces taped together. A fork or other instrument may be needed to open up a gap.
9 Place a piece of tape sticky side down onto a table. Continue placing three additional pieces of tape the same size right on top of the first piece. Take the pieces of tape off the table and cut them to a two inch length. Continue by cutting it down the center, so you have two pieces of two inch long tape, four layers thick.
10 To make the hinge part, mark little lines in the center of the tape pieces. You can use two popsicle sticks as a guide if needed.
11 Now to make the arm of the catapult, take one of the hinge pieces and tape it to the remaining four inch popsicle stick at the the flat end. Place your other piece of tape on the underside of the popsicle stick. To make the tape stick together, squeeze the free ends of the tape together. Out at least three wraps of tape around so it stays secure.
12 Now put the catapult arm into the base. The arm lays straight across in the middle of your base and connects to the stick with the rubber band on it by the pieces of tape at the non-rounded end. Secure the two together with at least four wraps of tape.
13 Tape your rubber band to the arm. It should not be stretched out but at a 45- degree angle. It is better to leave the length a bit long if you need to change it.
14 Draw a straight line across your two by two paper square, a half inch from the top. Repeat the same step, a half inch from the bottom. Now draw a vertical line that intersects your horizontal line a half inch over from the side. Repeat this step on the other side. You should have four squares in the corner now. Take a colored marker or pencil and mark the far vertical side of the square in the top right hand corner. Mark the bottom horizontal line for the square at the upper left corner. Mark the inner vertical line for the square at the bottom left corner and the top horizontal line for the square at the bottom right corner.
15 Cut the colored lines with scissors. Now make the paper into a square by folding it together and sealing it with tape.
16 Put your cup onto the arm near the rounded end and tape it down to secure it. Your catapult is now done.