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by jcims 2897 days ago
Most of the means of optimizing trebuchets make sense after the fact, but would not be intuitive to me at first glance.

For example, making the frame more rigid improved the outcome here, but if you put the whole thing on wheels you would likely still get more increase because the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves.
2 comments
gonzo 2897 days ago
https://classes.engineering.wustl.edu/2009/fall/ese251/prese...
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schiffern 2897 days ago
>the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves.

That should change how long it takes the arm to drop, but it shouldn't change the amount of potential energy released (and thus, projectile speed).

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jcims 2897 days ago
Projectile velocity is a function of power rather than energy alone because you only have so much time to accelerate it.
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foota 2897 days ago
It does, another commenter posted the same person's explanation. But, the idea is that it doesn't matter how much GPE is released, it matters what the velocity of the projectile at release is. If the trebuchet can't move then the weight starts to slow down before all it's GPE is used up. When it can move, it coincides with the time that the projectile is at maximum velocity.
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