Introduction:
For almost as long as civilizations began they have been fighting against each other. Often times these wars come down to who has the better military equipment. When one army creates an elite war machine another army is sure to soon copy or improve it. For example the U.S. Army Signal Corps purchased the first ever military aircraft in 1902 (Taylor). Two years later the Italians were also using aircrafts. The trebuchet catapult is no exception; it was one of the most destructive military machines of its time (Chevedden, 2000). A trebuchet works by using the energy of a falling counterweight to launch a projectile (Trebuchet). In this research paper I intend to explain the history and dynamics of a trebuchet catapult.
History:
The word trebuchet comes from the French word that means “to tumble” or “to fall over,” which is precisely what the trebuchet aims to do (Farrell, 2006). The trebuchet catapult first began appearing in the 6th century (“How to Build”, 2012). However, these early trebuchets were powered by humans pulling on ropes in order to lunch a projectile. What we would officially recognize as a trebuchet that uses gravity acting on a counterweight to launch a projectile started appearing in the 12th century (“How to Build”, 2012). Trebuchets were invented because castles,
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walls and fortifications were being built very strong and earlier catapults didn’t cause enough damage on these strong structures. Trebuchets could launch enormous weights at high speeds that would cause damage on any fortification. On average a trebuchet projectile reached a max weight of 300 kilograms (Chevedden, 2000). However, during the fourteenth century there were reports of trebuchets launching projectile weighing up to 1,200 kilograms, which is the weight of a small car (Chevedden, 2000). While it is impressive that the trebuchet can launch such heavy weights, what may be even more impressive is how rapidly these projectiles are launched. It was reported that trebuchets could launch 2,000 stones in one day, which could do significant damage to a castle or an army in a short amount of time (Alchin). Although stones were the most common projectile used, trebuchets also launched sharp wooden poles, body parts, fire, cast of burning tar and many other object that would cause significant damage (Alchin). The trebuchet ruled supreme for a few centuries until it was eventually replaced by gunpowder and cannons (Chevedden, 2000). Trebuchet dynamics: The image above shows the basic mechanics of the trebuchet. The counter weight hangs on the right side while the pouch and payload sit on the base of the catapult until the trigger is released. When the trigger is released the beam begins to rotate dragging the pouch and payload along the base. As the beam rotates the payload experiences centripetal acceleration which causes it to move outwards (since it is unrestrained.) The sling releases when a certain angle ? is reached (Siano, 2001). During their prime, trebuchets attracted much attention from engineers; in fact the word engineering is closely related to them (Chevedden, Eigenbrod, Foley, & Soedel, 2002).
According to Chevedden et al., (2002) the Latin word for trebuchet was “ingenium” and those who designed, made and used them were called inginators. These early engineers kept modifying the trebuchet to increase the range and impact force. One of the improvements engineers made was varying the length of the sling ropes so the shot left the machine at a ? angle of 45 degrees to the vertical (shown in the figure above), which produces the longest trajectory (Chevedden et al.,
2002). The second big improvement to the trebuchet was using a hinged counterweight. When docked, the hinged counterweight would hang directly below the hinge at an angle to the arm (Chevedden et al., 2002). When the trigger is released the hinge straightens and counterweight swings throughout the cycle. Medieval engineers determined that hinged counter weights would launch projectiles farther than fixed ones. Hinged counter weights also put less stress on the trebuchet. The swinging of the counterweight as a breaking effect on the rotating beam (Chevedden et al., 2002). This breaking can bring the beam almost to a stop, which eases the strain on the machine’s framework. The slowing of the beam also keeps the trebuchet from moving around this met that engineers didn’t have to reposition the machine and it could shoot quicker (Chevedden et al., 2002). The trebuchet device also played a role in the single greatest medieval advance in physical science, the innovations in theoretical mechanics associated with Jordanus of Nemore (Chevedden et al., 2002). Jordanus developed a concept of the position of gravity, which was a revival in the middle ages. Jordanus proposed that for the same distance traveled weight was “heavier” when its line of descent was vertical rather than oblique. Engineers of the trebuchet know that if they hinged the counterweight the weight descends straight down thus most effectively using the force of the weight. Conclusion: In this research paper I explained the history of the trebuchet catapult and how medieval engineers made improvements to increase its efficiency. Engineers found that the best model of catapult was one that has a counterweight in order to use to force of gravity to launch a projectile. Over the years engineers continued to make improvements some of which included, releasing the projectile at an angle of 45 degrees with the vertical. A second improvement was hinging the counter weight so increase the throwing force. The trebuchet catapult was the most destructive military machinery in the world for a few century’s until it was replaced my canons. The trebuchet catapult was a incredible feat of engineering and its concepts helped spark ideas for future inventions to come.
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
Rather he focuses on the logistics of warfare through the innovations in gunfire, cannon manufacturing and operation, and defensive warfare. Moreover, Parker does not attempt to use his position and research to criticise other scholars position on the military revolution. He simply agrees with Michael Roberts definition and attempts to contribute his principles of innovation as a means to strengthen Roberts
Question 5: “Texts construct characters who represent the best qualities in human nature, as well as those who represent the worst.” Discuss how at least ONE character is constructed in a text you have read or viewed. (Sem 2, 2016)
Air Defense Artillery remains one of the most respected assets to the United States Army, ready to deploy its units and weapon systems at anytime and anywhere in support of freedom. Works Cited Brigade General Scales, Robert H. JR. Certain Victory. The U.S. Army in the Gulf War. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1993.
First the energy of conservation. The setting of the trebuchet before firing is shown in Fig 1. A heavy counterweight of mass (M) (contained in a large bucket) on the end of the short arm of a sturdy beam was raised to some height while a smaller mass (m) (the projectile), was positioned on the end of the longer arm near or on the ground. In practice the projectile was usually placed in a leather sling attached to the end of the longer arm. However for simplicity, we shall ignore the sling and compensate for this omission by increasing the assumed length of the beam on the projectile’s side. The counterweight was then allowed to fall so that the longer arm swung upward, the sling following, and the projectile was ultimately thrown from its container at some point near the top of the arc. The far end of the sling was attached to the arm by a rope in such a way that the release occurred at a launching angle near the optimum value ( most likely by repeated trials) for the launch height. The launching position is shown in fig.2 where we have assumed that the projectile is released at the moment the entire beam is vertical. In the figures: (a)=height of the pivot, (b)= length of the short arm, (c)= length of the long arm, while (v) and (V) are the velocities of (m) and (M), respectively, at the moment of launching.
The earliest model was the trebuchet. It started by using a large weight on one end of a pivoting arm. The arm was pulled back the missile was placed and then let go. The weight went down, the arm went, and the missile launched. The later model gained its power from a tightly wound skein of rope, hair, and skin. the skeins were twisted incredibly tight and then had a wooden arm up to sixty feet long placed in between them. The arm was pulled back using pulleys and rope, the missile was placed in the wood cup and then the arm was released. The arm sprang to a 90 degree angle where it was stopped by a large padded piece of wood. The arm was then brought back down and fired again.
8 Galum, John, Joshua Shakon and Tan Mau Wu. “National Missile Defense – A CS91 Final Project.” < http://www.cs.swarthmore.edu/~eroberts/cs91/projects/national-missile-defense/index.html>
In an attempt to better understand the components of the trebuchet and to permit the viewer a better idea of the manner in which the firing of a trebuchet occurs, a trebuchet constructed entirely of K-nex was built this past week. The counterweight consisted of 5000 steel bb's wrapped in plastic and duct tape, while the sling itself was made of duct tape and twine. The remaineder of the trebuchet, including the throwing arm, were constructed purely from K-nex.
Crossbows are a highly effective weapon for hunting and war even in today's standards. The first records of crossbows are from China in the 6th century BC. The knowledge then spreads slowly to the west into Europe during the time of the Roman Empire, the greatest empire of all times. The crossbow remained the favored weapon of war and hunting in Rome until the 15th century when gunpowder was also introduced from China.
The Stonehenge Research Report: There are many wonders of the world. There is the Great Wall of China, the Coliseum, the Hagia Sophia, the Taj Mahal, and many other places across the globe that have struck wonder into the world. Yet there is a place that not even the smartest of scholars cannot seem to understand. On a grassy piece of land in England there are heavy stones that stand tall, placed side-by-side and some even lay upon one another. It is known as the Stonehenge.
Science fiction never ceases to amaze me as I take great enjoyment in exploring these creative universes. I have always had a great interest in military science fiction for its take on technological innovation and critical analysis. Military science fiction in general is very speculative about future of technology and warfare. The military science fiction genre also serves as a critique of contemporary politics as it deals with many of the same issues that go on today. This has made military science fiction one if the most well respected genres of science fiction for it ability to indirectly criticize modern society. My Integrated Project explores the relationship between how technology that has arisen from war has been some of the most innovative and why war has become an unshakeable aspect of human existence.
“In July 1945, the first atomic bomb was tested in New Mexico and the next month the second and third weapons off the production line were dropped on Japan. Since then no nuclear weapons have been used in anger, although tens of thousands have been accumulated by the major powers and their destructiveness and sophistication increased immensely.” The nature of warfare is constant and evolved from multiple factors and military revolutions over time. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most important military revolution in history and highlight its effects that permeate modern day society. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is the most significant military revolution that led to the greatest changes in warfare, which include the immergence of new threats such as non-state actors, the shift from total war to low intensity conflict, and the importance of technology and innovation. This military revolution completely shattered existing paradigms of warfare due to the real threat of nuclear weapons’ total destruction of humanity.
For centuries, Stonehenge has been a structure of wonder for all those who see or hear about it; many people wonder how it was built and why. Over the years, Stonehenge and the similar surrounding structures have been heavily studied, with new discoveries found yearly. Construction of Stonehenge itself started around 2600 BC on the Salisbury Plain in England (Grimston, 2007). It is constructed of large stones brought from the Welsh mountains positioned into several circular patterns (Grimston, 2007). Not too long ago, a discovery was made near Stonehenge called Durrington Walls. This lesser known site is believed to be the home of the builders of Stonehenge and is very significant to the monument’s purpose. 200 feet away from there lies the most famous of the timber henges, Woodhenge (Rattini, 2008). After examining each site’s solstitial alignments and relation to each other structure, it is deducted that each would have played a pivotal part in a ritual that would have taken place thousands of years ago.
The system and technique of supplying an arrow with kinetic energy through the tension of limbs has been improved with the crossbow. The big catapults took up once again the principle of throwing stones. It all changed with the invention of the gunpowder. Cannons, guns and handheld weapons assumed the role of bow and arrow. Now, the warlike intention behind the long-distance effect went even more into the foreground.
Catapults A catapult is a tool or weapon used first by the people of Jeruselum to launch an object a large distance. The catapult has been used since ancient times and is still known today as one of the most effective weapons in war. The word catapult comes from 2 greek words “kata” meaning downward and “pultos” meaning a small circular battle shield. Together the word katapultos was taken to mean “shield piercer”.