Physics Portion: Force

The trebuchet catapult contains parts such as the base, arm, counterweight, and payload. Each compontent has several different forces acting on it. The base of the catapult has a gravitational force pulling down, while the normal force from the ground acts against the gravitational force. The arm experiences an applied force from the weights while it is launching due to the gravitaional force pulling down the weights. For our trigger mechanosm, there is a static frictional force before we pull rubbing against the supporting arms of the catapult and then a kinetic fritional force one the trigger is pulled out. The weights are experiencing a gravitaional force pulling the weights downward and pulling the launching arm up. The payload has a fritional force when it is rubbing against the base of the catapult and then experiences an applied force from the gravitational force. The applied force from the payload over comes the frictional force and the gravitaional force allowing it to be shot into the air. Adding more weights up to a certain point will increase the distane of the payload. The counter weight should be one-hundered ties heavoer than the payload for maximum launching. Putting liquid graphite into the holes and the dowel rod will help the friction between the wood so make the trigger machanism go smoother.