For my experiment, I plan to build a larger scale catapult that will be able to fire a round ball the size of a soccer ball. I want the soccer ball to be able to consistently go into the hoop after many attempts. This will require many attempts to find the correct flight angle and number of strips to use. The very first catapult was invented around 400 BC. with the idea of ​​trying to improve the crossbow. Diodorus Sicily was the Greek philosopher who invented the catapult and was the first to use an arrow to shoot. After they began using rocks and such to throw over the castle walls, they began using whatever they could find, including corpses. During the Bubonic Plague, Kublai Khan, a Mongol during the Bubonic Plague, spread the plague even faster by using a catapult to throw disease corpses over walls. What exactly is a catapult and what were they used for? “A catapult is a mechanical device that is a sort of larger version of the slingshot” (Stephen Rampur, 2011). The dictionary definition of a catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a long distance without the aid of explosive devices. This means that people would arm the catapult with various non-explosive items such as rocks or logs, or whatever people could find. In medieval times, catapults were primarily used for waging war. Soldiers fired various objects over the castle walls to attack and injure enemies. It was a very effective way to harm enemies because it was quiet and they didn't know when it would happen. The most recent use of catapults in warfare dates back to World War I, when wars were fought primarily from trenches. The soldiers armed these catapults inside their trench, loaded the...... middle of paper...... which does not tip over. The catapult must have a platform on both sides to remain sturdy and not lose control. This also allows for more accurate and consistent shooting. Bearings also play an important role in catapults. You need to be able to have something that the arm can pivot on without a lot of friction slowing it down. A pipe or some sort of tube on which the arm can pivot is ideal to have as little friction as possible. In my experiment, I will build a catapult that will be able to shoot the same object in a consistent area. To do this I will need to have the same tension every time I pull, as well as measure the angle and which one I pull each time. Another thing would be to have the cap in the same place. These things will help me achieve my goal. Works Cited http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-a-catapult-work.html