The trebuchet is a marvel of medieval engineering, it works by using the energy of a falling (and sometimes hinged) counterweight to launch a projectile (such as a rock or a pot of flaming oil), using mechanical advantage to achieve a high launch speed. For maximum launch speed the counterweight must be much heavier than the payload, since this means that it will "fall" faster. the word 'Trebuchet' derived from the Old French word 'Trebucher' meaning to throw over and was also known (along with many other english siege weapons) as the Ingenium from the Latin word ingenium meaning ingenious device! it incorporates mathematical equations that took centuries to perfect and was truly the most devastating siege engine of its time.
The concept …show more content…
Geometry was first conceived in early mesopotamia with basic formulas of geometry and algebra. as time progressed the ancient Egyptians perfected the mesopotamian geometry and used their new understanding of math to construction the pyramids and lay out their intricate temples and palaces. the Chinese were the first nation to use the mostly simple geometry that had been relatively well known throughout most early nations and apply it to war engines such as the traction trebuchet. When designing the trebuchet, the engineers needed a way to make the projectile fire at incredibly high velocity and range, in order to do this they adopted the principle of mechanical advantage. the principle of mechanical advantage in regards to a trebuchet is where the counterweight pivots around a much shorter distance than the firing end, in an experiment done by Kyle Carpenter and David Torbect they discovered the most optimal ratio of arm length is three to one, so for every three measures of length on the projectile side you put one measure of length on the side with the weight. The advantage of this is that the firing end of the beam reaches a much higher linear speed than the counterweight end of the beam, this is what allows the payload to reach a high launch speed. However, because the counterweight pivots around a much shorter distance, its weight
The concept …show more content…
Geometry was first conceived in early mesopotamia with basic formulas of geometry and algebra. as time progressed the ancient Egyptians perfected the mesopotamian geometry and used their new understanding of math to construction the pyramids and lay out their intricate temples and palaces. the Chinese were the first nation to use the mostly simple geometry that had been relatively well known throughout most early nations and apply it to war engines such as the traction trebuchet. When designing the trebuchet, the engineers needed a way to make the projectile fire at incredibly high velocity and range, in order to do this they adopted the principle of mechanical advantage. the principle of mechanical advantage in regards to a trebuchet is where the counterweight pivots around a much shorter distance than the firing end, in an experiment done by Kyle Carpenter and David Torbect they discovered the most optimal ratio of arm length is three to one, so for every three measures of length on the projectile side you put one measure of length on the side with the weight. The advantage of this is that the firing end of the beam reaches a much higher linear speed than the counterweight end of the beam, this is what allows the payload to reach a high launch speed. However, because the counterweight pivots around a much shorter distance, its weight