Physics of a Catapult

Today I am going to write about the testing and creation of my rat trap catapul as well as the physics and mechanics of one.

Here is an image of a catapult if you didnt already know

First a catapult works by pulling back the catapult arm along a string, secondly you then put your ammunition in the cup or basket. The pulled back arm has potential energy or stored energy that is not used. When you let go the potential energy turns into kinetic energy or the energy of movement.when the arm is topped the ammunition is sent flying because of Newton's second law, an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by a force, so the ball flys away because of inertia.

First off I built my rat trap by taking out the staples and the zz trigger mechanism.

Secondly I then used a Popsicle stick and tapes it horizontally across the spring so it is easier to pull back

I then taped a vertical Popsicle stick which is the arm of the catapult

Then I taped a plastic spoon on top of the vertical Popsicle stick. This is the catapult basket.

I then taped two erasers together and put it at the base of the spring this acts as the stopper of the catapult.

I needed a base for my catapult so that it didn't flip upside down, I didn't have any spare wood to glue it to so I made a Popsicle stick base and glued the mouse trap to that. That is my mousetrap catapult and hopefully I don't fail miserably tommarow in class.