History & CultureHow it works
How a medieval trebuchet hurled stones 300 metres.
A counterweight trebuchet is a lever on an axle: the short arm carries a box holding several tonnes of stones or earth, the long arm ends in a sling. Release the weight and the long arm whips upward, with the sling boosting the speed further. From the 12th century it flung stones of around 35 kilograms up to 300 metres.
Useful: Levers and gravity beat muscle power for centuries. Look where you still use both today.
Source: en.wikipedia.org