NGSS HS-PS3-3 (Trebuchet Option)
NGSS HS-PS3-3: Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to covert one form of energy into another form of energy.
For a number of years I taught a 9th grade physical science course that included a unit about engineering. The final project of the unit had students designing, building, and testing trebuchets. The students would compete to see which group could launch a projectile the greatest distance. The competition could be ramped up by adding in an accuracy component as well.
Students learned that the counterweight possesses gravitational potential energy which is converted to kinetic energy when the counterweight falls. The dropping counterweight makes the throwing arm whip around to throw a projectile.
This activity takes 2-3 class periods. When I have had to complete this activity in fewer class period I pre-make the throwing arm and we would just switch it from one build to the next during testing. If you have more time I think it makes the activity more challenging for students to need to figure out how to make the throwing arm.
There are many options for constraint for this activity. I limited my students to a 1kg counterweight. They were also given set amounts of cardboard, dowel, paper, and had to complete their build within a time limit.
The video shown below is from the winning student trebuchet from one of my classes during the 2015-2016 school year at Coon Rapids High School.
The materials used for this activity included:
-packing tape
-cardboard (from cereal boxes)
-wooden dowel
-paper clips
-string
-single hole rubber stopper
-paper
For a number of years I taught a 9th grade physical science course that included a unit about engineering. The final project of the unit had students designing, building, and testing trebuchets. The students would compete to see which group could launch a projectile the greatest distance. The competition could be ramped up by adding in an accuracy component as well.
Students learned that the counterweight possesses gravitational potential energy which is converted to kinetic energy when the counterweight falls. The dropping counterweight makes the throwing arm whip around to throw a projectile.
This activity takes 2-3 class periods. When I have had to complete this activity in fewer class period I pre-make the throwing arm and we would just switch it from one build to the next during testing. If you have more time I think it makes the activity more challenging for students to need to figure out how to make the throwing arm.
There are many options for constraint for this activity. I limited my students to a 1kg counterweight. They were also given set amounts of cardboard, dowel, paper, and had to complete their build within a time limit.
The video shown below is from the winning student trebuchet from one of my classes during the 2015-2016 school year at Coon Rapids High School.
The materials used for this activity included:
-packing tape
-cardboard (from cereal boxes)
-wooden dowel
-paper clips
-string
-single hole rubber stopper
-paper
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