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How to Make a Catapult From Styrofoam Blocks for a Physics Project

Since as early as 200 B.C., people have created and used catapults. These machines, which can hurl objects hundreds of feet in the air, don't use electricity or explosives. Instead, catapults simply use the power of tension to launch items. For your physics project, create a scale model of a catapult using Styrofoam and other household items to bring to life the machine and showcase its workings.

Things You'll Need

Styrofoam
Bread knife
Glue
2 clothespins
Rubber band
Plastic spoon

Instructions

- 1
  Arrange your Styrofoam blocks into the shape of the base of your catapult, about 4 inches thick and as wide and long as you desire. Cut through the foam pieces with a bread knife and adhere them together with glue. Save any scrap pieces of Styrofoam to use as ammunition in your catapult when it's complete.
- 2
  Glue two clothespins together, stacking them on their skinny sides. Glue the clothespins in the center of the Styrofoam base.
- 3
  Tie a rubber band around the top prong of the clothespin tower. Place the handle of a plastic spoon underneath the rubber band, so that the rest of the utensil is extending in the air.
- 4
  Place a piece of Styrofoam in the spoon. Pull back on the utensil and let it go to send the object flying. Try placing ammunition of different weights in the catapult -- such as peas, beads and coins -- to see what travels the farthest. Move the spoon back and forth up the clothespins to adjust how far the catapult can send objects in the air.

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