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A stonemason chips a 250-pound block of sandstone into a round and impressive projectile. Lead is melted and poured into molds. When the metal cools, the weight is bolted to the trebuchet's shorter arm. If the trebuchet works as planned, gravity will pull the six and a half tons of lead downward, the other arm will lift upward, seesaw-fashion. This will launch the sling-nestled ball with tremendous force at the castle wall and smash it. At least that's the plan. Previous Next Medieval Arms Race | NOVA Builds a Trebuchet | Life in a Castle Destroy the Castle | Resources | Transcript Medieval Siege | Pharaoh's Obelisk | Easter Island | Roman Bath | China Bridge | Site Map Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated November 2000 |