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Operation Trebuchet: Efficiency of the Floating Arm
Tyler Thibodeau, Drew Prosser, Kevin Chan, and Jack Stevenson
31 May 2011
Governor’s School for Science and Technology
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Acknowledgement
• Dr. Truong Le
– For his guidance on research presentation
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Outline
• Background Information
• Theory & Diagram
• Applications
• Experimental Results
• Discussion & Conclusions
• Future Work
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Background
• Trebuchet
– Uses falling mass
– Floating-arm configuration
• Calculate efficiency
– Based on distance thrown
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Model
• Converts potential energy to kinetic energy
• Projectile motion after launch
• Derivations yield
• To calculate efficiency
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Physical Model Sketch
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Physical Model Dimensions
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Application
• Efficiency now known
• Develop more efficient trebuchets
– Less friction
• Base to verify physical equations
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Results
Mass Trial
One Two Three Four Five Average
22.26 kg 22.6 m 35.7 m 20.1 m N/A N/A 26.1 m
24 kg 33.5 m 39.6 m 34.1 m 32.9 m 38.7 m 35.8 m
26.2 kg 39.6 m 37.5 m 32.9 m 37.8 m N/A 37.0 m
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Results (cont.)
Mass Theoretical
Value
Actual Value Efficiency
22.26 kg 338 m 26.1 m 7.7 %
24 kg 365 m 35.8 m 9.8 %
26.2 kg 398 m 37.0 m 9.3 %
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Discussion
• Very low efficiency
• Greater mass = farther distance
• Unreliable launches affect results
– Misfires
– High variability
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Conclusion
• Majority of energy used up
– Overcome friction
– Air resistance
– Rotational energy of the arm
• Reduce friction/surface contact
– Would yield greater efficiency
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Future Work
• Create a more efficient trebuchet
– Reduce friction
– Lower mass of throwing arm
• Use a heavier projectile
– May allow for more consistency
– Also may be more efficient