Capstone Vincent Russell

Mentor:

Ms. Rosalind Echols will be our mentor. We have selected her because she has the knowledge needed for this project, pertaining to mathematics and physics, to complete. I also did a similar project last year with her as my teacher, so we can learn from our mistakes of the last project.

Topic:

Mechanics of a trebuchet as well as the math behind it. As I wish to pursue degrees in Mechanical Engineering this project allows me to, get my feet wet, if you will, with the real world application and model of concepts of engineering that we will be exposed to. It’ll give me experience working for college.

Goals

By doing this project I hope to learn some of the concepts used in the engineering field as well as experience using some tools I haven’t used before. I wish to study Mechanical Engineering at each of our future respective colleges. Going beyond getting a degree, eventually to obtain a job as an engineer. This project will house material that we will study in college, along with a physical project in which to showcase our understanding.

Product:

It will be a Trebuchet because its physical representation of the mathematics/physics and other subjects that we have learned over the course of the year and what we will learn throughout this year. As well as weekly progress reports on what is done.

"Physics30 - Amanda and Jacqueline's Trebuchet." Physics30 - Amanda and Jacqueline's Trebuchet. Amanda and Jacquelin, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://physics30.wikispaces.com/Amanda and Jacqueline's Trebuchet>.

A miniature project that had success, could be primary? Shows their process, materials and how they built it. Also, shows a data table of how far it went with what mass.Their successes could help us to succeed.

"Lever." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/lever-info.htm>.

Shows how levers work and the application of the lever. Basic concepts that we need to know. This is important because we can use this to make the trebuchet, and use it for math.

"Trebuchet Physics." Trebuchet Physics. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/trebuchet-physics.html>.

Shows a lot of math and reasoning behind the trebuchet.

This will be vital to predictions and how to see what size of a counter weight be need. Also, with the design process of the different ratios of the parts.

Da Vinci, Leonardo. Da Vinci Crossbow. Digital image. About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. <http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventors/ig/Inventions-of-Leonardo-DaVinci/Giant-Crossbow.htm>.

Good primary drawings from Da Vinci himself. Shows different views of it and how the machine works.

Kretschmann, David E., Jerrold E. Winandy, and David W. Green. "Mechanical Properties of Wood." N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.woodweb.com/Resources/wood_eng_handbook/Ch04.pdf>

This source is good for telling us when, and when not, to use wood for the creation of the trebuchet. We used wood in all parts of our project last year. This source could tell us if there should be a different material used for differents parts of the trebuchet.

FAT's & F2K's. N.d. Photograph. The HURL. Browsing Gallery: FAT's & F2K's. Web. 1 Feb. 2013.< http://www.thehurl.org/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=14 >

This source may be used just for design ideas and appearance ideas. Especially since the trebuchet is so similar to our previous project. The HURL is a website that shows the process of actually making the trebuchet as well as how it performed after it has been produced. There are some sections that discuss the math behind using the trebuchet but there will be some modifications if we decide to use a sling.

Sciortino, Tom. "Trebuchet Construction." Ra226.net. 2007 Tom Sciortino, 2007. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.< http://www.calpoly.edu/~tsciorti/treb/ >

This source is particularly helpful in doing the math needed for the event. If one person brings a watermelon and another person brings an orange, we want to try to get both objects to land in the same vicinity. This is another source that discusses what to use to build the trebuchet and it’s kind of helpful to compare and contrast other sources that make certain suggestions on how to build certain parts.

"Trebuchet.com." Trebuchet.com. RLT Industries 2013, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.trebuchet.com/firstfat>

This overall source talks about the measurements of the different parts of the trebuchet, but we mainly used this source to focus on how we can make a trigger to release the arm to send the projectile. We had a makeshift trigger mechanism for our previous trebuchet but we aren’t quite sure if we want to make an elaborate trigger contraption or we can just use a block of wood to prevent the arm from swinging before we want it to.

"Floating Arm Trebuchet Plans Download." Trebuchet.howtopool.com. Miller Family Estate 2012, 2012. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.

<http://trebuchet.howtopool.com/>

This source can mainly be used for comparison in results. There are specs related to the measurements of their trebuchet and how it worked. We can use that to determine what changes we need to make to peak potential.

"Floating Arm Trebuchet." Russell Jones Floating Arm Trebuchet Comments. N.p., 2009. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.rjones3.net/projects/floating-arm-trebuchet/>

This is a great forum that discusses the process in which their trebuchet was built and the users talk about how their trebuchet performed based on their specs and changes in default measurements.

RIPCORD. "Welcome to THE HURL." Welcome to THE HURL. N.p., 20 Oct. 2012. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.thehurl.org/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?topics_offset=1&forumId=1&comments_parentId=25233>

This source discusses the variables that determine the output of the trebuchet and what possible problems you may run into.

Saimre, Tanel. "TREBUCHET ñ A GRAVITY-OPERATED SIEGE ENGINE."Estonian Journal of Archaeology. Estonian Journal of Archaeology, 1 Oct. 2006. Web. 1 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.kirj.ee/public/va-arh/arch-2006-1-3.pdf>

This source is helpful in the physics part of our project and determining how air resistance and gravity will be be working against us.

SMKYTXN. "Modified Floating Arm Trebuchet." Tacoma World Forums RSS. Tacomaworld, 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/248534-modified-floating-arm-trebuchet.html>

Honestly, this source could literally build our entire project if we simply follow its directions. However, we want to be original so we’re going to have many additional modifications because we have different ideas in mind. This source also provides some useful feedback from other people who built a trebuchet with a similar design. Their input is valued when in the building process because it could help us avoid some common mistakes that maybe they had made.

"The Hurl - Wiki." Merlin -. N.p., 2011. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.

<http://thehurl.wikidot.com/trebuchettypes:merlin>

This source discusses the variables that determine the output of the trebuchet and what possible problems you may run into. The math looks a little complex, but, hopefully, we can use the math we’ve learned last year in physics to get the overall results we are aiming for. If the math proves to be more complex and difficult than we can handle, we’ll most likely have to reschedule our events in our timeline and dedicate some time to learning from Ms. Echols.

TeamCatapult. "Floating Arm Trebuchet, the Most Effecient Catapult!" YouTube. YouTube, 03 Apr. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2013.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qDvMwa71Fg>

This is mainly for inspiration. It’s fun to see how other people’s creations perform and how we think ours will compare.