Engineering students gain real-life experience in trebuchet competition tomorrow

Students taking a dynamics course in the Raymond B. Jones’ School of Engineering at Lipscomb University will show off their knowledge tomorrow by competing to build the most efficient trebuchet. The competition will take place on the Quad at Lipscomb in front of Burton Bible Building, 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville, Tenn.

Three groups of students will gather on the Quad Saturday to build the trebuchets. Each group will have identical sets of supplies including 25 2x4s, eight cinder blocks, six feet of chain and other necessities. Each team will work on its trebuchet until 4 p.m. At 4 p.m., each team must be ready to test the efficiency of its design as they launch a cantaloupe at a target 34 ft. away. Each team will have three attempts to launch cantaloupes along a specified trajectory to hit the target. After this accuracy competition has concluded, the teams will compete again to determine which trebuchet has the greatest projectile range using a sling/trebuchet combination.

The trebuchet is a medieval siege engine similar to the catapult. It differs from the catapult in that its only source of power is the transfer of potential and kinetic energies through the use of a counterweight.

For more information about the trebuchet competition, contact Fred Gilliam, associate dean of the Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering at 615.279.5887 or by emailing fred.gilliam [at] lipscomb.edu.