The Ballista is just a bigger version of a crossbow. The word Ballista comes from the Greek word “Ballistes” meaning throw. They were, believed to be, invented by the Greeks, and later modified by the Romans. The Ballista was built to amply to range and power of the crossbow and was the earliest catapult. The Mangonel is the catapult that most people think of. From the Latin word “manganon” meaning engine of war. The Mangonel was invented by the Romans in 400 BC. The Mangonel consists of a long wood arm with a bucket with a rope attached to the end. The arm is then pulled back then the energy was stored in the tension of the rope and the arm. Then the bucket would be loaded. When the arm would be released the arm would return to its equilibrium position when it hit the beam. The Mangonel fired projectiles in an overhead arc, the angle of the path of the projectile could be determined by a block placed on the beam that stopped the Mangonels arm, by using a block that stopped the arm earlier than 90 degree angle would result in a path angle equal to the angle between the arm and the 90 degree angle. It was capable of firing 1,300 ft. The Trebuchet comes from the ancient sling. It originated in China before the 4th century BC. It is a combination of simple machines. The Trebuchet uses a lever and is usually powered by the force of gravity. There is a heavy weight box
The Ballista is just a bigger version of a crossbow. The word Ballista comes from the Greek word “Ballistes” meaning throw. They were, believed to be, invented by the Greeks, and later modified by the Romans. The Ballista was built to amply to range and power of the crossbow and was the earliest catapult. The Mangonel is the catapult that most people think of. From the Latin word “manganon” meaning engine of war. The Mangonel was invented by the Romans in 400 BC. The Mangonel consists of a long wood arm with a bucket with a rope attached to the end. The arm is then pulled back then the energy was stored in the tension of the rope and the arm. Then the bucket would be loaded. When the arm would be released the arm would return to its equilibrium position when it hit the beam. The Mangonel fired projectiles in an overhead arc, the angle of the path of the projectile could be determined by a block placed on the beam that stopped the Mangonels arm, by using a block that stopped the arm earlier than 90 degree angle would result in a path angle equal to the angle between the arm and the 90 degree angle. It was capable of firing 1,300 ft. The Trebuchet comes from the ancient sling. It originated in China before the 4th century BC. It is a combination of simple machines. The Trebuchet uses a lever and is usually powered by the force of gravity. There is a heavy weight box