4th Grade Art & Science Projects — Design and Discover — Engineering and Art Challenges
Students will build a catapult and learn about force, energy, and motion, seeing how God's laws of physics are at work in simple machines.
A catapult is a simple machine that uses stored energy to launch an object through the air. People have used catapults for thousands of years, and they are a fun way to learn about the physics God built into His creation.
Catapults work by using potential energy — energy that is stored and ready to be released. When you pull back the arm of a catapult, you are storing energy. When you let go, that stored energy becomes kinetic energy — the energy of motion — and the object flies through the air.
The distance an object travels depends on several factors: how much force you use, the angle of launch, and the weight of the object. Scientists call these variables, and changing one variable can change the result.
God created the laws of physics that govern how forces work. Gravity pulls objects down, while the catapult's force pushes them up and forward. Understanding these laws helps engineers and inventors create amazing machines.
Build a catapult using craft sticks, rubber bands, a plastic spoon, and a bottle cap. Launch small marshmallows or pom-poms at a target. Measure how far each object flies and record your results. Try changing the angle or the number of rubber bands and see how the distance changes.