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One doesn't often see the trebuchet mentioned in physics texts, yet it isin recent years, we've had two student groups who used 'Interactive
a very interesting mechanism, and suggests some questions worthy of
discussion here.
So, here's the question for physicists. Why does this articulated-arm
engine convert energy to the projectile so much more efficiently than
rigid-arm engines? Modern trebuchets (often seen at Medieval fairs) have
achieved efficiencies as high as 64%, according to the literature, with
100 lb projectiles and a range of over 600 feet and a mass ratio
(counterweight/projectile) of 20.
But if you are going to introduce the trebuchet into a physics course, I
suppose you'd feel obligated to delve into the history of it, and also do
the physics of it by analysis of the energy and angular momentum changes
in the device during the swing. Otherwise, why do the experiment? Good
luck, for it isn't simple. Perhaps someone will do the general
mathematical analysis and post the results here.