The Science of It: Engineering Week – Catapults and Medieval Designs
The Science of It: Engineering Week – Catapults and Medieval Designs
TO KINETIC ENERGY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. CATAPULTS ARE A BATTLE WEAPON DATING BACK TO MEDIEVAL TIMES, AND NOW THAT SAME CONCEPT SHAPES OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES. FIRST WARNING METEOROLOGIST MARQUISE MEDA TAKES US TO THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER TO LAUNCH US INTO THE SCIENCE OF IT. HEY, GUYS, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER. I’M METEOROLOGIST MARQUISE MEDA, JOINED BY ZACH ONCE AGAIN, AND I DIDN’T KNOW IT ZACH. BUT I GUESS WE GOT SOME BEEF BECAUSE WE’RE GOING TO WAR TODAY. NO, WE’RE GOING TO GO AGAINST WAR AGAINST THE CAMERAMAN TODAY. WE’RE GOING TO BE LAUNCHING THE CATAPULTS RIGHT AT THE CAMERA TRYING TO NAIL IT. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A MEDIEVAL ENGINEERS WITH SIEGE WEAPONS. THESE ARE MASSIVE, HULKING MACHINES THAT WERE DESIGNED WITH ONE PURPOSE IN MIND TO HURL A REALLY HEAVY ROCK AT A CASTLE WALL AND MAKE IT TUMBLE DOWN. AND IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BUILDUP OF POTENTIAL ENERGY, RELEASING IT VERY, VERY QUICKLY TO THAT KINETIC ENERGY. SO WE HAVE THREE DESIGNS REALLY, REALLY SIMPLY IN MOVING UP TO THE VERY REALISTIC AND COMPLEX. SO WE’LL START OVER HERE WITH OUR LITTLE MINI CATAPULT. THIS IS JUST ABOUT A POPSICLE STICKS, SOME RUBBER BANDS, AND OF COURSE YOUR BOTTLE CAP GLUED OR TAPED ON. AND BASICALLY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE IS OUR WOOD IS A LITTLE BIT PLIABLE. IT’S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO BEND A LITTLE BIT. AND THAT BEND IN THAT SPRING IS GOING TO BE YOUR POTENTIAL ENERGY BUILDING UP. SO WHEN YOU HOLD IT DOWN AND PUSH BACK AND THEN YOU LET GO, ALL OF THAT POTENTIAL ENERGY IS GOING TO CONVERT TO KINETIC ENERGY IN THREE, TWO, ONE, BOMBS AWAY, WAY UP OVER OUR WALL. NOW HERE, OUR MIDDLE DESIGN IS GOING TO BE STARTING TO USE SOMETHING CALLED A TRUSS SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM OF TRIANGLES RIGHT HERE IS GOING TO HELP SUPPORT THE WEIGHT. SO WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADD MORE POTENTIAL ENERGY IN THE SYSTEM WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. WE ALSO HAVE AN ELASTIC RUBBER BAND. THIS ELASTIC IS MADE UP OF POLYMERS WHICH ARE LONG, STRETCHY CHAINS OF MOLECULES THAT CAN STORE UP A TON OF POTENTIAL ENERGY. SO WHEN I HOLD DOWN AND PRESS BACK IN THREE, TWO, ONE OFF TO THE LEFT, YEAH, A LITTLE FURTHER. IT HAS A LOT MORE POTENTIAL ENERGY. SO IT’S GOING TO CONVERT TO A LOT MORE KINETIC ENERGY. AND I’VE HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT GEOMETRICALLY SPEAKING, TRIANGLES ARE THE MOST SECURE AND TRUSTWORTHY. YEAH. IF YOU SEE BRIDGES YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF TRIANGLES THAT ARE ON. THEIR TRIANGLES ARE A RIGID SHAPE, SO ONE SIDE CAN’T BEND WITHOUT THE OTHER TWO BENDING AS WELL. SO IT’S GOING TO KEEP ITS SHAPE VERSUS A SQUARE THAT CAN KIND OF TURN INTO A PARALLELOGRAM. SO IT HAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH ACTION, TOO MUCH WIGGLE. BUT HERE WE’RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE LIKE A LITTLE BOW ACTION. IT KIND OF LOOKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A CROSSBOW WITH THIS METAL BAR. THIS METAL BAR IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY GOOD AT STORING THAT POTENTIAL ENERGY. THIS IS A VERY REALISTIC 3D MODEL OF A REALISTIC CATAPULT LAUNCHING IN THREE, TWO, ONE. OOH, PRETTY CLOSE TO THE CAMERA. BUT THIS IS A VERY REALISTIC MEDIEVAL ENGINEERING CATAPULT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE DESIGNED. AND THIS IS PART OF OUR SERIES OF DIG DEEPER, WHERE WE DIVE A LITTLE BIT INTO ANCIENT HISTORY. AND THIS IS PART OF OUR ANCIENT ENGINEERING. DIG DEEPER EXHIBIT. SO THIS IS A LOT OF FUN. YOU CAN SEE IT ALL THROUGHOUT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER ALL MONTH LONG. WELL, IT’S SUPER COOL. REPLICA. THEY EVEN GOT THE SPIKES ON THE SIDE. YEAH, MAKE IT LOOK REALLY COOL. THE ENGINEERS DID NOT MISS A SINGLE DETAIL, AND I DON’T WANT YOU GUYS TO MISS OUT ON THIS. THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST AS WE’RE HIGHLIGHTING ENGINEERING MONTH HERE AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER. AND WE HOPE TO S
The Science of It: Engineering Week – Catapults and Medieval Designs
The Science of It: Engineering Week – Catapults and Medieval Designs
The Science of It: Engineering Week – Catapults and Medieval DesignsFrom Medieval Warfare to Modern Science: Catapults Take Center Stage at the Orlando Science CenterAt the Orlando Science Center, history and physics collide as catapults launch lessons in energy, engineering, and design. First Warning Meteorologist Marquise Meda joined Zach at the center to demonstrate how these ancient siege weapons highlight the transformation of potential energy into kinetic energy.The segment explored three catapult designs, beginning with a simple popsicle-stick version powered by rubber bands. This model showcased how bending wood stores potential energy, which is released in an instant to hurl small objects through the air.The second design introduced a truss system. This incorporated triangles that provide structural strength, much like those used in bridges. Combined with elastic polymers, this build demonstrated how geometry and materials engineering allow for greater energy storage and more powerful launches.Finally, Marquise and Zach revealed a realistic 3D model of a medieval catapult, complete with metal components for maximum tension and detail faithful to ancient engineering.The demonstrations are part of the Science Center’s “Dig Deeper: Ancient Engineering” exhibit, running throughout August. Visitors can explore replicas of siege weapons, discover the science behind their mechanics, and see how innovations from centuries past still shape engineering today.
The Science of It: Engineering Week – Catapults and Medieval Designs
From Medieval Warfare to Modern Science: Catapults Take Center Stage at the Orlando Science Center
At the Orlando Science Center, history and physics collide as catapults launch lessons in energy, engineering, and design. First Warning Meteorologist Marquise Meda joined Zach at the center to demonstrate how these ancient siege weapons highlight the transformation of potential energy into kinetic energy.
The segment explored three catapult designs, beginning with a simple popsicle-stick version powered by rubber bands. This model showcased how bending wood stores potential energy, which is released in an instant to hurl small objects through the air.
The second design introduced a truss system. This incorporated triangles that provide structural strength, much like those used in bridges. Combined with elastic polymers, this build demonstrated how geometry and materials engineering allow for greater energy storage and more powerful launches.
Finally, Marquise and Zach revealed a realistic 3D model of a medieval catapult, complete with metal components for maximum tension and detail faithful to ancient engineering.
The demonstrations are part of the Science Center’s “Dig Deeper: Ancient Engineering” exhibit, running throughout August. Visitors can explore replicas of siege weapons, discover the science behind their mechanics, and see how innovations from centuries past still shape engineering today.