Trebuchets, Ballistas & the Physics of Medieval Warfare
From the thundering counterweight trebuchet to the terrifying Greek fire, medieval siege warfare was an arena of engineering genius. These interactive simulations let you explore the physics behind history’s most formidable war machines—adjust counterweights, torsion springs, and projectile masses to see how gravitational potential energy, momentum transfer, and structural mechanics determined the fate of kingdoms.
The heavy hitters of medieval siege warfare. Gravity and torsion power these ranged weapons that hurled stones, bolts, and incendiaries over castle walls.
The king of siege engines. Adjust counterweight mass, arm ratio, and sling length to maximize range. Watch gravitational PE convert to devastating kinetic energy.
Roman torsion artillery using twisted sinew bundles. Fire bolts at 80–120 m/s with adjustable torsion, bolt mass, and elevation angle.
Pull-rope powered torsion catapult. Compare its range (~400m max) against the trebuchet. Adjust pull force, stone mass, and arm length.
The Byzantine Empire’s terrifying secret weapon. A petroleum-based incendiary projected from a siphon that burns on water. Aim and ignite.
Getting close to the walls. These weapons required courage, engineering, and brute force to breach castle defenses from ground level.
Momentum = mass × velocity. Swing an iron-headed log against the castle gate. Watch damage accumulate with each impact until the gate shatters.
Roll a wooden tower up to castle walls. Match tower height to wall height, then drop the drawbridge for a direct assault. Beware defender arrows and fire.
The defender’s perspective. Castle architecture was engineered to absorb punishment and control access through chokepoints.
Click to bombard a stone wall and visualize stress propagation through masonry. Watch cracks form, blocks shatter, and the wall eventually breach.
Counterweight-operated bascule bridge with windlass and chain. Balance bridge mass against counterweight to see how a few guards move tons of timber.
Legendary machines from history and a sandbox to combine everything you’ve learned into a full siege.
Edward I’s legendary siege engine at Stirling Castle, 1304. 90m tall, launching 135kg stones at 190 km/h. Historical specs and size comparison included.
Deploy trebuchets, ballistas, mangonels, battering rams, siege towers, and Greek fire against a castle. Combine weapons strategically to breach the walls.