Trebuchet

A trebuchet is a medieval engine for hurling heavy projectiles.

Objective:

To vault an object, a softball, as far as possible using only gravity.

Regulations:

  1. The device must be made of wood, non-elastic fabric, rope, and wood glue.
  2. No springs or elastic materials may be used.
  3. Lubricants can be used.
  4. There can be no metal parts of any kind including bolts and nails.
  5. Rocks and bricks can be used only for the counterweights.
  6. The device can only be powered by a descending counterweight.
  7. Participant cannot touch the trebuchet once the counterweight is released.
  8. The total weight of the device (including the counterweight) cannot exceed 100 pounds.
  9. SFASU will provide the softballs to be launched on a grass field.
  10. If a trebuchet poses any threat to safe competition, the judges reserve the right to disqualify it.
  11. No practice launches will be allowed on the day of the Physics Olympics. So be sure to test your trebuchet in advance.

Scoring:

Scoring will be base on the distance from a line in front of the trebuchet to the first impact point of the softball.