What is a torsion catapult?
The Torsion Catapult is a siege weapon from the Middle Ages. It was the long-range weapon of William the Conqueror. Horses were normally used to pull the catapult back, giving it more tension than a crank powered or human powered catapult.
How does a catapult use tension?
Both catapults and ballistas work by storing tension either in twisted ropes or in a flexed piece of wood (in the same way an archery bow does, but on a larger scale). A trebuchet tends to be easier to build because it consists simply of a pivoting beam and a counterweight that rotates the beam through an arc.
How do Mangonels work?
The Mangonel works by pulling a long arm with a bucket attached down form its 90o angle of equilibrium. By doing this we store the potential energy of the catapult in the tension in the ropes and the arm.
How does the angle of a catapult affect the distance?
Tension is effectively the opposite of compression. The angle at which the throwing arm is pulled back to will affect both the distance the projectile will travel and also the height that it reaches when in the air.
How does the ballista work?
A ballista was a weapon invented by the ancient Greeks to launch an object a considerable distance. When the arms were pulled back, the ropes twisted around a wench, building tension. Once the tension was released by letting go of the arms, the ropes unwound and the object launched into the air.
How far can a mangonel catapult shoot?
1300 feet
Mangonels were mostly used for “firing various missiles at fortresses, castles, and cities,” with a range of up to 1300 feet. These missiles included anything from stones to excrement to rotting carcasses.
Does the length of a catapult arm affect distance?
How does the length of the throwing arm affect the horizontal distance travelled by an object that is thrown from a catapult? Increasing length of the throwing arm, also increases the horizontal distance travelled by the thrown object.
How do you calculate torsional spring stiffness?
Torsion spring torque is calculated the same way you calculate a working load. To calculate the torque of a torsional spring you must divide the spring rate by the amount of degrees of deflection your spring will be required to travel.
How does torsion bar suspension work?
The torsion bar is basically a length of metal rod anchored at one end to the car body and at the other end to the suspension lower link. As the wheel passes over a bump the bar twists. It returns to its original position when the bump is passed and restores the car to its normal drive height.