1. Blueprint and Rationale - Richard Soucy
Blueprint
See picture file for blueprint
Materials:
Duct Tape
Masking Tape
Gorilla Tape
Wood
Brass tubing 16 cm
2 plastic spacers 4 cm each
2 balloons
Flour 21.3 g
Counterweight 2500 grams
String 65 cm
Superglue
2 plasic cups
Rationale
I designed my trebuchet this way because of many reasons. The counterweight string is 45 cm long so
it does not limit the swing of the arm. The arm is 71.5 cm long to allow for the projectile to go farther,
but as to not limit the swing of the arm. The struts are 48 cm long to allow height to make the
projectile stay in flight as long as possible, and to insure the arm swings properly. The distance
between the struts is 15 cm to allow room for the counterweight cup to move freely. There is 2500 g of
counterweight to add distance to the launch. There is a larger pocket to insure the projectile does not
fall out. The projectile is a balloon filled with flour covered by another balloon to prevent flour from
coming out, to minimize bouncing and rolling, and to make sure the projectile does not break. There
are plastic spacers to increase accuracy. That is why I designed my trebuchet this way.