Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Cut out the 10-by-10-inch base from the one-half-inch plywood with a saw. Sand the edges and corners of the base until they are smooth. Paint the surface of the base if you want.
Remove the projectile arm and the bait holder from a rat trap by pulling it off with the pliers. Discard these pieces; you will not need them anymore. Keep the spring mechanism on the rat trap.
Place the lever spring mechanism in the relaxed position. Tape the plastic spoon in a downward position to one side of the lever arm. Use plenty of duct tape so that the spoon is securely fastened to the metal.
Screw the rat trap onto the large wooden base. Place the screws in areas where they will not interfere with the spoon, the lever or the spring mechanism.
Hammer a nail into the wooden base on the side. This nail will be used to wrap the string around to hold the catapult down in the loaded position.
Tie a piece of string to the lever mechanism in the center. Use the string to pull the lever back so the spoon is now facing up. Loop the string around the nail to keep the catapult in the loaded position.
Hammer the eraser to the rat trap base right under the position that the lever arm will slam into once the string is released. The eraser allows the lever arm to be angled in the proper trajectory.
Place the projectile on the spoon and release the string. Watch the projectile fly.