by Kessie Carroll

Created on: November 03, 2008

Kids learn about catapults from an early age. Anything from a rubber band pulled back from the thumb and fired across the room, to a spoon pulled back and used to fling food at a sibling.

A parent or teacher may want to turn this fascination with projectiles to more educational uses. And what better way to teach a child about catapults than by building one? But keep in mind: catapults of all kinds are weapons. They were meant for harming people and destroying things, and even a model can hurt someone. Use caution!

The Mangonel

The mangonel, or onager, is the classic catapult. You load up the bucket, wind the arm back, and let it go. The arm flies up and fires its cargo at its target. This is called a tension catapult, because as you wind it down, tension is stored in the arm. When you release the string, the tension is converted into the energy that flings the missile.

Detailed instructions on building a mangonel catapult, including pictures and a parts list, are here: http://www.stormthecastle.com/catapult/how-to-build- a-catapult.htm

Ballista

A ballista is a large crossbow. They fire large darts or arrows, and instead of being used to knock down castle walls, they were used against oncoming infantry. They launched their darts with such power that they were capable of impaling several armored men.

A ballista works much like a crossbow. You pull the string back and lock it into position with a trigger. Then you load up your ammunition and pull the trigger. This is probably not a good weapon to place in the hands of a child, because depending on how good your construction turns out, it could place a round through an eye or other body part. But for preteens or teenagers, it is fascinating to build.

Instructions and videos on building a ballista can be found here: http://www.monsterguide.net/how-to-build-a-ballista. shtml

Trebuchets

Pronounced trib-you-shay, the trebuchet is the most fun catapult of all time to build and play with. It works on the same principle as a slingshot: a bucket at one end and a weight at the other.

The weight is hoisted up and the bucket is loaded with a large stone or other missile. Then the weight is released. The weight falls, flinging the bucket's load up and around a central hub, where it flings its cargo into space. Depending on the size of the trebuchet and its payload, it can destroy stone walls and concrete very easily. It is also more accurate than a magonel.

Detailed instructions on building a trebuchet can be found here: http://www.stormthecastle.com/trebuchet/how-to-build -a-trebuchet.htm

Others:

If your model-building skills are not up to the rigors of building a proper catapult, consider making a slingshot instead. A slingshot is a very simple catapult. The easiest kind requires only a forked stick and a thick rubber band. You can also buy them at toy stores.

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