For more than six years, the Pitsco Education Trebuchet Kit has been a popular activity for teaching STEM concepts and energizing students. Soon after developing the Trebuchet Kit, Pitsco added the Catapult Kit.
In light of these successes, Pitsco recently released a new addition to the siege machines line: the Large Trebuchet Demonstrator.
This trebuchet – as its name implies – is more of a demonstrative tool for teachers than a student kit, but its size and power make concepts such as energy, gravity, simple machines, and prediction even clearer. Almost three times bigger than the Trebuchet Kit, the Large Trebuchet Demonstrator makes an impression, which is how Catalog Product Development Specialist Bill Holden recommends that teachers use it – to make an impression.
“They can use it to create interest and to gain students’ attention by doing something wild and out of the ordinary,” Holden said. “And hopefully to get students into inquiry mode.”
Mechanical Designer Gary Jones suggests another way to illustrate force and energy concepts – dry launching. When the trebuchet is launched without the projectile, most of the energy goes back into the trebuchet and will shake it roughly. Then, launching with the projectile will smooth out the trebuchet’s movements. “It really demonstrates how energy from the launcher is transmitted to the ball,” Jones said.
The Demonstrator is a laser-cut kit requiring basic construction with glue and screws. It comes with a user guide and activity suggestions. To learn more about the Large Trebuchet Demonstrator, visit shop.pitsco.com or call 800-835-0686.
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Note to media:
Learn more about the
Large Trebuchet Demonstrator and
Pitsco Education or contact Communications Manager
Tom Farmer. High-resolution images of the Large Trebuchet Demonstrator are available upon request.