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Golf Ball Trebuchet

by alliemorman on October 23, 2009 Table of Contents Golf Ball Trebuchet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Golf Ball Trebuchet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Building The Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Setting Up The Arm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Adding Weight and Sling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Launch! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 5

http://www.instructables.com/id/Golf-Ball-Trebuchet/

Intro: Golf Ball Trebuchet

This is a trebuchet we made for our Concept Physics class. Our trebuchet threw a golf ball a distance of over 29 yards! We were the only all girls group in our class and we built the best trebuchet. We did a little bit of research and set out to construct our own and here is what we created!

Step 1: Materials
7 - 4 ft long 2x4"s 2 - 2 ft long 2x4"s 4 - 3 ft long 2x4"s with the ends cut at 45 degree angles 4 - swivel chair wheels 1 - 2 1/2' re-bar an eye hook 4 ft of string a sack 1 laundry detergent basket

Step 2: Building The Frame

1) Make a rectangle out of two of the 4 ft long 2x4's and the two 2 ft long 2x4's. 2) Take two more 4 ft long 2x4's and center them so that they lie flat in the center of the 2 ft long 2x4's. This will create the platform that the golf ball will slide along before being released. 3) Attach the swivel chair wheels to the bottom of the four corners of the frame. The wheels not only help with transportation but also allow more force behind the throw of the trebuchet.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Golf-Ball-Trebuchet/

Step 3: Setting Up The Arm

1) Center two of the three remaining 4ft long 2x4's on each of the 4 ft long sides of the frame (not on the slide platform). Attach the boards vertically. 2) For extra support attach the four 3 ft long 2x4's to each side of both of the vertical 2x4's. 3) Drill one hole, large enough for the re-bar to fit through, on each of the vertical boards, one foot from the top. 4) Drill a hole in the last unused 4 ft long 2x4. Make sure this hole is large enough for the re-bar to fit through, too. This will become the arm. 5) Place the remaining 4 ft long 2x4 between the two vertical boards, line up the three holes, and place the re-bar in. 6) In our design, we held the arm in place with zip ties, but I'm sure there are better methods you could think of that would cause less friction if you were to re-create this trebuchet.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Golf-Ball-Trebuchet/

Step 4: Adding Weight and Sling

1) Attach the eye hook to the short end of the arm so it sticks out of the top of the board. 2) For our weight we used a laundry detergent bucket and just put the handle through they eye hook to attach it. That way we could easily vary our weight. The bucket also works well because the free moving handle allows the bucket to work with the law of gravity longer. 3) For the sling, cut the 4 ft of string into two 2 ft pieces. Attach one end of each piece to opposite sides of the sack. Attach a metal ring to the other end of one of the strings. 4) On the long end of the arm hammer in a nail at about a 45 degree angle into the end. This is where the string will release. We wrapped our nail in electrical tape so that the head of the nail wouldn't interfere with the release or the string. 5) Tie the string that is not attached to the metal ring to the top or the long end of the arm.

Step 5: Launch!
1) Add weight in the bucket. The ratio we found that works the best is 133:1, for weight in the bucket to weight of the thing you are launching. 2) Pull all the way back on the long end of the arm. 3) Load the sling with what you want to launch - in our case, a golf ball. Make sure the the sling is pulled all the way back so the inertia of the throw will keep the ball in the sack. Attach the hanging side of the sling with the ring on the nail. 4) RELEASE! (and get out of the way of the arm ;) )

http://www.instructables.com/id/Golf-Ball-Trebuchet/

Step 6: Results
Our trebuchet still needed a little tinkering on the launch day. I feel our data is not exactly representative of the potential of our trebuchet - if we'd had the time we would have adjusted the launch and point of release. Also I think we would add more to the weight to increase the velocity of the throw. But, that being said, I am still quite impressed with what it did throw. Our trebuchet threw a golf ball 29.3 yards and the ball had a peak acceleration of 292 m/s^2. Our trebuchet also threw the ball the farthest out of the rest of the class for trebuchets. Overall, this was a really fun machine to build. I think it worked better than anyone in my group thought it would and it was actually quite satisfying seeing a golf ball flung at high speeds for the first time, too :)

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Comments
23 comments Add Comment

Kiteman says:
I think you'd better check each other's data.

Nov 6, 2009. 11:16 AM REPLY

you have an acceleration of 292 fts-2, but the other project published about the same trebuchet has an acceleration of 300ms -2.

faleure says:

Nov 10, 2009. 2:13 PM REPLY I'm pretty sure that the last page says 292 m/s^2, not ft/s^2. Do you have any idea what you're talking about, or do you just go around bashing on everyone's instructables to make yourself feel better? Come on, dude, we're in high school. Nothing is perfect.

Dr KAZ says:

Aug 20, 2010. 3:32 PM REPLY Then get it perfect. Scientists (and Science Teachers) like that. On the other hand, failure builds the character of a REAL Scientist. Perseverance, despite negative criticism, makes the REAL Scientist INVENT. IGNORANCE of constructive criticism makes a Scientist an OUTCAST. After all, Scientists work together. Join us. Your friendly Polymath... Nov 11, 2009. 12:10 AM REPLY Apparently we touched upon a sensitive subject, faleure. But it's alright, because now I know exactly how I can change my pathetic attempt at an Instructable in hopes that I can one day achieve greatness in the form of teaching 12-year-olds Science and checking to see if people respond to my Instructables comments every 40 minutes.

alliemorman says:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Golf-Ball-Trebuchet/

Kiteman says:
I guess I don't know what I'm talking about.

Nov 10, 2009. 2:53 PM REPLY

After all, I've only written 100 Instructables, and I'm only a Science teacher. Yeh, what would I know about publishing an Instructable on a Science project? That was constructive criticism. Your teacher warned you that you would get criticism (I think the phrase he used was "If you do a poor job putting this together, the Instructables community will tear it apart!"). If you want bashing, I'll be happy to oblige, but maybe you'd prefer some questions that I would ask if one of my 12-year-old students handed this to me as a piece of work? Shall we start with the strange mix of Imperial and SI units? Or the claim of research done without sources being referenced? Or the 133:1 ratio, where did that come from? Or how you know that wheels increase the range? Did you try it without? "We're in high school" is not an excuse for not doing your level best.
Oh, and congratulations on finding the edit button.

hughligen says:
It's very amusing to see a self proclaimed mature and intelligent individual paying out high school students. Grow up and get some maturity.

Sep 7, 2010. 3:32 AM REPLY

Kiteman says:
Excuse me? Age has nothing to do with this.

Sep 7, 2010. 11:50 AM REPLY

Unless you have led a very sheltered life, you should be aware of how important constructive criticism is to the learning process. These students made mistakes which, if my own pupils had made them, would have been laughed out of the classroom by their fellow pupils. The authors' own teacher gave them a specific warning about the expectations of this site. Suck it in, get over yourself, and post something that isn't a waste of bandwidth.

hughligen says:
You call your comment constructive criticism? More like sarcastic insults. I'm sure glad your not my teacher. but hey whatever floats your boat

Oct 12, 2010. 9:04 PM REPLY

Kiteman says:
Can I help it if I have higher standards than you? (Water, usually).

Oct 13, 2010. 10:25 AM REPLY

groverbover says:

Jan 20, 2011. 3:37 PM REPLY I am a teacher also and am surprised how rude your comments are to this student. I suppose in some countries you can treat children like garbage and call it tough but we always called it bullying. When a student confuses SI and English you don't yell at them or belittle. That is not an instructional technique. It is also a violation of the "be nice" policy. I have never read an Instructable with rudness like this and am wondering how such a person could work with any other human beings, much less children. Perhaps we could direct you to an instructable on forming and keeping human relationships.

Kiteman says:
I am suprised that somebody who claims to be a teacher does not investigate a story fully. All I did was suggest that students check their data.

Jan 21, 2011. 3:58 AM REPLY

As for rudeness, did you bother reading your own post out loud before hitting "post"? Try it sometime.

groverbover says:

Jan 21, 2011. 4:59 AM REPLY Your follow up comments are rude. You don't take criticism well and respond with attacks instead of consideration of the critique. Perhaps that might be an instructable someday.

Kiteman says:

Jan 21, 2011. 11:41 AM REPLY Clearly we are suffering a breakdown in communication here - possibly the lack of vocal tone, and a temporal dislocation of several months - but your reaction is far greater than the situation warrants. All members here are on a level playing field - if you can't cope with a touch of sarcasm, you're not going to get far in life. (I wonder, dare I ask your specialism?)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Golf-Ball-Trebuchet/

doughnutguy1 says:
O.O Water? could you please explain? I don't get it.

Dec 16, 2010. 1:05 PM REPLY

Kiteman says:
Water. It floats boats.

Dec 17, 2010. 4:00 AM REPLY

doughnutguy1 says:
Displacement floats boats.

Dec 17, 2010. 5:10 AM REPLY

Kiteman says:
>sigh< It was sarcasm - read the thread.

Dec 17, 2010. 9:17 AM REPLY

generaljuan says:

Jan 7, 2011. 8:47 AM REPLY Its okay Kiteman, I've read quite a few of your Instructables, and I realize that you actually do know what you're talking about. I've had teachers much like you, its always fun to have teachers with sarcasm who actually care about details.

2muchfreetime says:

Jul 25, 2010. 7:49 AM REPLY I think you guys did a great job! Question though... What did you use for a sack, and how large was it? Another thing: How far along the arm did you drill the hole for the rebar?

cheesapuffa says:
This is really cool, I may try it myself

Apr 3, 2010. 7:22 AM REPLY

shabaki says:
heh now to buy some grenades/road flares/beehives/watrer ballons with time release sodium capsules

Nov 28, 2009. 11:05 PM REPLY

Marble of Doom says:

Nov 6, 2009. 5:33 PM REPLY I recently made a trebuchet for a robotics course to chuck a 30lb pumpkin. Using a 150lb trashcan my team only got the pumpkin 12 meters. Of course we made ours out of PVC held together with pneumatic-tubing!

Marble of Doom says:

(Oops, it didn't upload)

Nov 6, 2009. 5:44 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Golf-Ball-Trebuchet/