Trebuchet
Design
Jason
Hoisington
Phys 212
3/21/05
Phys 212
3/21/05
Unlike ballistas and mangonels, which
gain their power from ropes under tension, the trebuchet is powered by
gravity.
http://www.redstoneprojects.com/trebuchetstore/treb_hist_2.jpg
The operators pulled the arm
down to point A as shown in the picture above and the sling at the end
of the arm was loaded. Once the arm was released, the
counterweight on the short arm of the trebuchet was pulled down by
gravity, rotating the arm. One end of the sling had a loop which
was placed over a hook on the end of the arm, and as the arm rotated,
the loop came off of the hook, opening the sling and releasing the
stone, as shown on point B.