First, however we define what this creation is, it is wickedly cool. I wish I had a class like the one you built that in... and team members to build it with.
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Originally Posted by martin417
OK if we go with the Webster definition of catapult "an ancient military device for hurling missiles", then yes all trebuchets are catapults (but obviously not all catapults are trebuchets). That would then mean that all missile throwers are catapults, including ballistae, onangers, mangonels, and even more modern weapons like howitzers, cannons, rifles, pistols, magnetic rail guns, FA/18 jet fighter...... All of these devices hurl missiiles. (though not all could be classified as ancient).
But if we look at Webster's definition of Trebuchet "a medieval military engine for hurling heavy missiles (as rocks)" there is little difference. It would appear as though the two devices are the same. I attribute this discrepancy to laziness on the part of Webster. I still think a catapult refers to the traditional definition of on arm with a basket on the end that rotates about a pivot until it hits a stop, thereby propelling a projectile forward.
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I believe these definitions are far too vague to get a good definition (just as I would never define "justice" by a Webster definition; it's good for a quick reference, but for anything remotely technical, it is lacking). For the sake of rapid research, I'm going to use Wikipedia's definitions:
Catapult is defined as "any one of a number of non-handheld mechanical devices used to throw a projectile a great distance without the aid of an explosive substance;" this invalidates the examples of Howitzers and does include ballistae; originally, catapults referred to "ballistae" and ballistae referred to "catapults;" the definitions switched, but it can apply to either as long as it does not use explosives.
This is an example of a catapult.
Trebuchet includes the following: "trebuchet is often confused with the earlier and less powerful torsion engines. The main difference is that a torsion engine [ie mangonel or ballista] uses a twisted rope or twine to provide power, whereas a trebuchet uses a counterweight" and it continues to state "A trebuchet also has a sling holding the projectile, and a means for releasing it at the right moment for maximum range." and "Both trebuchets and torsion engines are classified under the generic term 'catapult,'."
This would appear to be a torsion engine, or a "torsion trebuchet;" however, that is not the normal context of the term "trebuchet."
I would argue that this is a torsion engine but not a trebuchet, for a trebuchet uses a counterweight, whereas the surgical tubing more closely matches the twisted rope used to power many catapults, such as mangonels and onagers.
I apologize for the length of this post, but I love both debate and medieval weaponry... This is not a confrontational post, it is just my viewpoint on it.