The Physics of Trebuchets

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The Physics of Trebuchets

• By
• David Jacobs

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So it begins

• The 2nd week of camp on Wednesday, Mr. Thompson
  brought into class a very well made trebuchet.
  Knowing that this is what we have been waiting
  for, we started to drool. I mean, I started to
  drool.

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Now Outside

• We went outside to launch tennis balls. After
  seeing how far it shot ( over 90ft ), I wasnt
  the only one drooling. Yes it was very
  impressive.

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Time to draw the design and total up the budget
(oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

• This is were we begin to visualize the look of
  our trebuchet. As you can see, Jacob is hard at
  work with the budget, as I see if we can get all
  the materials we need to build are wonderful
  trebuchet.

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LOWES

• Easy Jacob, careful. Here we are at Lowes where
  we bought a lot of wood. I mean A LOT of wood. We
  were able to buy everything we wanted, under the
  budget, oh yeah were good.

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James, James, James

• James, one of our mentors, came with us. James
  can be so silly some times. James get that bucket
  off your head!

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Construction Time

• Here I am at the top cutting the very needed
  angles for the base.
• On the bottom Jacob, Mitch, and I figure out how
  to fit the H frame for the base.

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The LOSERS!

• These are the two teams that think they can beat
  us, isnt that funny, you know they are just
  fooling themselves.

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A Bit of Practice

• Here I am doing a few last touches before we do
  some practice shots
• There is Mitch moving back as he released the
  arm.

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The Launch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Oh yeah, we won the very nice Ball in the Basket
  Game. It was all to my perfect technique of
  releasing the pin.

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Oh Yea

• .I got interviewed too. I think I was confusing
  him with my wonderful knowledge of trebuchets and
  the big words I used like trebuchet, sling, and
  counterweight, yup, I knew what I was talking
  about.

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Although.

• We lost many other competitions, we felt very
  happy when Team Weasel broke their basket, what
  did I tell you, theyre losers. Hahahahahahahaha,
  oh I shouldnt enjoy that so much.

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Story

• Long story short, I had I really great time
  building our trebuchet, and I know I learned a
  lot. Launching Day was really fun, but I wish we
  had more time to build, more money, and more time
  to build. We would have kicked butt, but I wanted
  to you guys a chance to win, so you all owe me
  big.

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• The End
• No one was hurt in this PowerPoint.
• James really didnt have a bucket on his
  head.
• .and Jacob didnt have any kind of face
  surgery, it was all fake.