Miniature Trebuchet Counterweight Siege Artillery
A challenging, hands-on discovery and STEM project designed for curious young minds aged 10 to 14.
Materials Needed
- • Jumbo wooden craft sticks (20 sticks)
- • Fast-acting wood glue or hot glue (1 set)
- • Heavy steel washers or fishing weights (approx. 150g) (10–12 units)
- • Wooden skewer (axle) (1 unit)
- • Paperclip (bent into a release pin) (1 unit)
- • Cotton string and light fabric pouch (1 set)
- • Modeling clay for projectiles (1 small block)
Pro Tips
- → The counterweight arm should be short and heavy, while the payload throwing arm should be 4 to 5 times longer.
- → Adding a flexible string sling to the tip of the throwing arm dramatically increases launch velocity and range.
- → Angle the release pin at the arm tip forward by ~30–45 degrees so the sling ring slips off at the optimal 45-degree trajectory arc.
Safety First
Launch only soft clay or mini marshmallows. Ensure clear line of fire.
How was this activity?
Your anonymous feedback helps us recommend better activities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Construct a rigid triangular A-frame base from glued wooden craft sticks and install a horizontal skewer pivot axle.
Step 2
Assemble an asymmetric lever arm with a 1:4 length ratio (e.g., 5 cm counterweight side, 20 cm throwing side).
Step 3
Suspend a basket filled with 150 grams of metal washers from the short arm, and attach a curved metal release pin and string pouch to the long arm tip.
Step 4
Load a small modeling clay ball into the sling pouch, pull the arm down, and release to measure flight distance and arc trajectory.