Long Term Challenge: TREBUCHET (updated 5-12-06)
or The Thirty Foot Barbie/Ken Toss

The Challenge

Your teams challenge is to design a trebuchet that will throw a weighted ball 30 feet at the designated target. Your trebuchet should be designed in such a fashion that the weights can be shared by all teams. Furthermore your machine should be designed so that it can be adjusted in such a way that it can be dialed in for throwing particular distances.

To get the Juices Flowing

Watch the Video…”Trebuchet” from Nova…..
Begin to sketch and discuss with your partner how you plan to build your Trebuchet…
Draw a full size front and side view of you solution…A finished Cad drawing will be produced later
Spy on the competition
Visit internet sites

Parts to the Problem

1. To design and build a machine that will throw the approved projectile (plastic golf ball with weights and duct tape) at the royal family. The royal family is one Ken Doll and one Barbie Doll seated at the “Dunk Tank.”
2. Sketch and then Draw full size elevations ( front and side ) of your Trebuchet
3. To do a finished CAD drawing of your groups finished Trebuchet.
4. To compete and gather points at the Thirty Foot Barbie/Ken Toss Dunk Tank.

Materials
Chassis Stock (3/4” x 3/4” ) Glue
4/ 2” wooden wheels Strong String
Nails and Screws Duct Tap
1/4” & 3/8” dowels Module Weights to be shared by all groups
Barbie and Ken
Plastic Golf ball tilled with weights and wrapped with duct tape

pg 2

Limitations

1. The base ( foot print ) of your trebuchet can be no larger than 7” x 10”.
2. The height of your trebuchet with the arm in a vertical position of rest can be no taller than 20” tall. Note: Both #1 and #2 are size limitations and were chosen because of storage availability.
3. No energy may be used to energize your trebuchet other than the module weights provided. See weights.

Playing Field

Your instructor will model the site.

Scoring and Grading
points will be awarded for :

1. A sketch of the possible solution
2. Full size front and side drawings
3. The finished Trebuchet
4. Cad drawings
5. Throwing the projectile forward
6. Sinking the Royal Family

Penalties

1. Dangerous horse play with a Trebuchet will result in severe grade reduction and could be grounds for suspension from the program.
2. Un-sportsmanlike conduct.