Instructions on How to Build a Catapult

You can make a catapult to use in your yard.

Catapults are an important part of military history, dating back to the ancient period. Making a catapult at home can be a fun craft project to enjoy with your children. This project will teach them about the history of warfare, and will promote engineering and creative thinking. The project is a simple one, which will take roughly two to three hours. After this, however, you can spend time in your yard testing the catapult with fruit or water balloons.

Things You'll Need

• 3 pieces of wood, 12 inches
• 8 pieces of wood, 6 inches
• Wood glue
• Putty
• Styrofoam cup
• Screws
• Drill
• Rubber bands
• 2 eye hooks
• Metal bar, 6 inches

Instructions

1. Cut the end of one of the 6-inch pieces of wood in order to make a 45 degree angle; you will need to cut both ends. Cut the top right corner and the bottom left corner of the piece of wood.

2. Screw a 6-inch piece of wood that hasn't been cut to the 12-inch piece so that they form a 90-degree angle. The 6-inch piece of wood should stand vertical when the 12-inch piece is horizontal. The 12-inch piece will form the base, so it should be able to lie flat when the 6-inch piece is attached.

3. Glue the 6-inch piece of wood between the two pieces you have just attached. The piece should form a triangular join between the longer 12-inch piece and the 6-inch piece which is standing vertically. Repeat steps 1-3 so that you have two identical structures, of a long 12-inch piece lying horizontally and flat, with a 6-inch piece vertically attached. Between the two, a diagonal 6-inch piece gives support.

4. Attach the two sections of the frame together using the four 6-inch pieces of wood. Attach each end of the 12-inch pieces of wood together by screwing a 6 inch piece of wood between them. You will now have a rectangular frame. Screw a 6-inch piece of wood between the top of the 6-inch piece wood which stands tall of the frame. Finally, attach the 45-degree joins together by screwing a 6-inch piece of wood between both.

5. Drill a hole in the remaining 12-inch piece of wood, roughly 2 inches from one of the ends. The hole should be around 1/8 inch wide and pass horizontally through the wood. Attach the eyehook 3 inches from the end of the 12-inch piece of wood, at the opposite end to the hole you have just drilled. Use the tack to attach a styrofoam cup immediately above the eyehook. Drill a hole near the base in each of the vertical 6 inch pieces of wood.

6. Feed the metal bar through the holes you have drilled. The 12 inch piece of wood with the Styrofoam cup on it is the "launcher," and should be placed between the 6 inch vertical pieces. The metal bar will run through the vertical 6-inch pieces and the launcher to form a pivot point. Place putty on both ends of the metal bar to hold it in place.

7. Place an eye hook on the front of the frame, in the center. Place rubber bands between the two eye hooks. The more you attach, the stronger and more powerful the catapult will be. Place an object in the cup, pull the bar back and release to use your catapult.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear goggles when launching the catapult in case the rubber bands break.

References

• Storm the Castle: How to Build a Catapult