Physics students build trebuchet projects

Shooting rocks into the air, flying ribbons through the sky. Who wouldn’t want to do that?

The physics classes are making trebuchets, a catapult with a sling shot instead of a basket, for their end of the year project. Students were to get into groups and build 40 inch trebuchets that could sling a hacky sack towards a designated target.

“I enjoyed it because we got to choose different options for what it would look like, Plus we got to choose what color it was.” Junior Savanna Salazar said.

The trebuchets could be made out of anything from wood to PCP pipes.

“I made mine out of wood because it’s strong and easy to put together,” junior McKinley Haney said.

Students had three weeks to complete the project. They must trial the trebuchets 20 times; each one must have the distance recorded. The first and last shot must be recorded on video using a cellular device. All group members must have been in each video or points are deducted.

“It’s exciting! I get to see a variety of designs, there will be blood, sweat and tears. Hopefully no one dies,” Mr. Shipp said.

Junior Hunter Burns’ project was made completely out of wood. He used a PCP pipe to release the hacky sack into the air; dumbbells were used to weigh down the sling. The trebuchet was painted black with a white outline.

“It’s great that we can be creative in the design of the trebuchets. It gives us more freedom,” junior Hunter Burns said.