Catapult

A catapult ( car-pellet or sling ) is a Arme of jet consisted of a handle supporting two branches in “Y” on which elastic bands connected to a flexible band stick (generally out of leather). To use it, a Projectile is placed on the leather tape and is maintained by the pinching of two fingers; the rubber band is then tended while moving away the arm which holds the handle; the shooting is started by slackening the pressure of the fingers on the projectile, which is sent to far on the target concerned.

In the familiar language, the catapult is often named sling, but it is not identical to this ancient weapon: “true” the sling. In the Bible, David embanked Goliath with a sling, and not a catapult.

History

The history of the catapult is related to material elastic and resistant to the base of the system of launching of projectile. The invention of the catapult is thus certainly related on technological advances of the chemistry of the rubber, and to the diffusion of the products of this industry, at the end of XIXe.

One can certainly connect the appearance of the catapults, with the invention by Edouard Michelin into 1891 of the first dismountable tires containing a tire tube. These old tire tubes of bicycle, made up of rubber (with elasticity higher than those current), were used as rubber bands of the catapult.

Types of catapults

  • rustic catapult : Of artisanal manufacture. “Y” of Wood, a rubber band in rubber (elastic with Garrot, tire tube of bicycle…).

  • modern catapult : Of industrial production. A reinforcement in Metal, an ergonomic plastic handle, a moulded latex rubber band. Certain improvement techniques exist:

    • ergonomic handle: form fingers, grip non-skid, form gun…
    • armrest: By taking support on the front armlever, it relieves the wrist (at the time of the tension of the rubber band) and thus offers a comfort and an increased precision of shooting.
    • stabilizing: One or more weights, ensure a certain inertia the catapult and limit the tremors.
    • sight: Allows an increased precision. For example, system of a reflector or laser view finder allows a very precise shooting more than 40 meters.
    • additional: carry-balls, carries lamp-torch, darts

Ammunition and uses

The choice of ammunition of a catapult is varied: stones, cherries, balls out of glass, steel balls, lead balls (drives out), balls of Paintball, nuts… etc the precision of the shooting depends for the projectile, of its weight (density of the matter) and of its rotundity (aérodynamisme for long distance).

As arms rustic, the catapult was used a long time with stones. The use of heavier and hard projectiles is privileged today: the density of the projectile allows a more precise, more distant shooting and more murderer.

The catapult is also used for the hunting of small games and birds. This hunting is still very popular in Africa.

The catapult is also used by certain fishermen with the line to send with precision of the soft food pellets to fish. An improved version, named lance-soft food , lance-bouilette or lance-starts , is provided at the end with the rubber bands with a flexible or rigid container (the cup) being appropriate better for the throw with soft or multiple projectiles (seeds).

Practical sporting

The catapult is used for a sporting practice, in a way similar to the arc for the sporting discipline of the Tir to the arc. They are not then any more constructions arranged using branches of tree and recovered rubber bands, but of catapults manufactured artisanalement in light alloys or plastics. The rubber bands are mainly made up of latex, with cylindrical section or punt. The modern gunners generally have of armrest and stabilizers “in the shape of antenna”.

In France, there does not exist championship, but in other countries, such as for example Spain or the USA, the catapults are the instruments of a popular sporting practice, with championships and associations. In this practice no stone is used. But rather of the metal or ceramics, plastic projectiles. A typical steel projectile has a diameter between 8 and 13 Misters.

Physical principles

August 1st

The force of impact of a projectile, like its air ballistic trajectory, depend mainly on kinetic sound energy. This one comes initially from the force of tension excercée on the rubber band and its factor of elasticity, as well as dimension, weight and factor of surface resistance of the projectile.

Legislation

In France, the catapult, the sling, are considered by the law as Arme S of 6th category, their use is regulated.

French expressions

  • To eat with a catapult : to eat quickly, or to nourish themselves badly.

  • To be paid with blows of catapult : to be badly paid

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