Our first Physics project this year was the Trebuchet Project. Within this project, we made mini trebuchet prototypes and our final trebuchets. We made counterweight trebuchets which uses a weight on the arm to send the projectile forwards. In order to prepare for this project, we learned about multiple physics concepts. We learned about energy, velocity, acceleration, and projectile motion.

One of the most important things to create a successful trebuchet is the ratios. This is like the weight of the counterweight to the projectile. For every one pound of the projectile, you would need 34 pounds of counterweight. The ratio is also important for the swing arm. For the part of the arm that holds the counterweight, you need 3.75 to one foot for the part with the projectile.

In order to create successful trebuchets, we had to look at the physics concepts behind them. This includes energy (potential and kinetic), velocity, acceleration, and projectile motion. Velocity is the overall displacement of the projectile divided by the time it took. Acceleration is the rate of change in velocity. A change in acceleration requires a change in direction. Projectile motion is an object moving at a curved motion. Energy is always carried by something, typically in the form of movement. Kinetic energy is an object in motion. If the object has more mass, the energy carries it more which results in it moving faster. The cause of this is the atoms moving in the object. Heat is an example of kinetic energy. When an object moves in any which direction and is stopped by another object, it has potential energy. It has the potential to move.

In this project, we were put into groups of four which required us to work on 21st skills such as collaboration and communication. You need to have clear communication in order to successfully collaborate with your group members. It was important to make plans with my group about what we needed to accomplish. This gave us a goal for every day. When we communicated and collaborated, it leads to us being a stronger community of learners.

This project also challenged us to think critically and creatively. When we encountered a roadblock in the process of building our trebuchets, we had to evaluate and analyze the issue in order to continue on. We also had to come up with creative ideas to improve our trebuchets and make them as effective as possible. We also had to use these skills to come up with materials and designs for our trebuchets.

In group projects, I tend to try to take over the project. I struggled with effectively communicating with my group which lead to me not trusting them to produce quality work. I constantly shot down their ideas because I didn’t think that theirs were as good as mine. I struggled with this the most in the prototype phase. I made an effort to improve on this when we began to build our final trebuchet because I realized that I could not accomplish the project by myself.

I think that one of the most valuable assets that I brought to the group was my natural leadership. I set goals for my group and made daily agendas. I made sure to keep my group on task so we could get our work done. I kept our group motivated to do good work and meet or deadlines.