Go Medieval With Your Own Trebuchet (Funky Physics Experiments)

You will need:

1. A large piece of cardboard
2. String
3. Marker
4. Pen cap (or something of
   that weight)
5. Plastic mug
6. Small piece of wire (or the
   plastic-bag tie)

Create your own medieval war in your backyard by constructing these trebuchets to plough down the ‘enemy’ forts.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. The trebuchet works on the same principles
   as those of the see-saw.
2. Cut a coffin-shaped piece of cardboard.
3. Next, make folds along the length of the cardboard.
4. Fold the cardboard leaving 3-4 cm of space between both the folds.
5. Mark the centre of the length, and make
   2 identical holes on either side on the
   folded parts.
6. Push a straw or pen through the holes and
   put it on the wooden stand so that it may now
   resemble a see-saw.
7. To one end take some string and attach your
   plastic mug to the string. This acts as
   counter-weight.
8. Take your piece of wire or plastic-bag tie
   and attach one end to the pen cap. Twist
   the other end into a hook.

RESULT

When you are ready, place the cup side of the see-saw forward, attach the hook of the wire to the hole you made on the other side and pull back till the pen cap touches the ground. As soon as you let it go, the mug will fall back to the ground on account of gravity, sending the wire and the pen cap flying through the air towards your target.