And the projectile is projected forward. 1. What reference point would you choose in calculating the gravitational potential energy for the
trebuchet before it is fired?
2. What information would you need in order to calculate the mechanical energy for the trebuchet
before it is fired? What equation would you use?
3. What kinds of energy are present in the system in the second picture of the trebuchet in the
figure? Describe each type of energy.
4. Why is the projectile held in a sling rather than placed in a container at the long end of the arm?
Chapter 11 Energy and its Conservation
PAGE 1
Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.