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The Physics of the Mangonel Catapult Catapults have been used for centuries by many groups of people, including the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Chinese. Catapults have had an assortment of purposes, but the most commonly purpose was to launch a projectile to destroy castles and soldiers. There were three main types of catapults; Ballista, Mangonel, and the Trebuchet. The mangonel was the most popular one. Different levels of torsion in the rope of the mangonel catapult decided how far a projectile was going to travel. Also the different objects that were used as projectiles and there masses also had a big role in the distance they would reach. If physics weren’t applied to building a catapult the catapult itself wouldn’t function correctly, therefore physics is what brings these machines to life. Though catapults are no longer used today in combat or any other use they still have a great history behind them. The mangonel catapult was the most well known one. The way this catapult functioned was by pulling back on a wooden stick that was connected to a wooden arm with a bucket, would pull that arm back. Pulling back on the wooden stick would cause the potential energy of the catapult to be stored in the torsion of the ropes of the wooden arm. When the wooden stick was let go the arm wood immediately return to its original position of 90 degrees where a wooden block would stop its impact and would then launch the projectile. When the arm reaches back to its original position it forms an arc with a radius equal to the arm length. Therefore the potential energy is transferred into rotational kinetic energy. Decreasing the torsion in the ropes of the wooden arm would make the projectile travel at a slower velocity. To calculate the t... ...ed. Another disadvantage is that the mangonel was not that accurate. The range was determined by the mass of the object and the strength of the catapult itself. Catapults were the weapon of the medieval times. The catapults had many purposes especially during war. Physics were applied to the building of a catapult without it the catapult wouldn’t function. The different levels of torsion would affect the catapults ability to launch a projectile higher into the sky, further, and give it a faster velocity. Also the different masses of objects used as the projectile were also accounted for those things. Though the mangonel catapult was a great catapult it also lacked some abilities, such as having poor accuracy and it wouldn’t work in wet conditions or cold weather like in the rain. Overall the mangonel is a great catapult and always has been over the past centuries.

Political Communication in Oliver Stone’s Platoon and JFK Essay

Introduction: Political communication—communication with a political purpose about human interaction—takes many different forms including novels, poetry, music, television, and film, which all have their distinct advantages and disadvantages in communicating with the public. Although some political communication intends to enact or drive social changes, some political communication seeks to maintain the status quo. The film medium, which is the subject of this paper, has a much broader mass appeal than other medias and often changes the viewer’s original beliefs and perceptions when he or she experiences over an hour straight of visual indoctrination of only one view. Over the course of the semester, we have learned about the informal process of the government. In our first paper of the semester, we analyzed how the news media coverage’s role of acting as the fourth branch of the government and its effectiveness in educating the public. The second paper involved the informal workings and strategies of an interest group, but also focused on an interest group’s structure and membership. Finally, we read several political novels to see their role and political impact on the mass public. For this free choice final paper, I decided to analyze Oliver Stone and his two films Platoon and JFK. Oliver Stone, a three-time Academy Award winner and known as one of the best filmmakers in his generation, ignores Hollywood convention warning against making films with a message. Among some of his great films, he made the two films Platoon and JFK. In Platoon, he presents a gritty and emotional examination of American soldiers during the Vietnam War through the lens of Chris Taylor, a biographical representation of himself and so... ...f moviegoers about the concept of war and the government’s intentions. Works Cited Beaver, Frank. Oliver Stone: Wakeup Cinema. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1991. Internet Movie Database. â€Å"Titles with certificate: Vietnam:(Banned).† . JFK (Special Edition Director's Cut). Dir. Oliver Stone. 1991. DVD, Warner Home Video. 2001. Kurtz, Michael L. â€Å"Oliver Stone, JFK, and History.† Oliver Stone’s USA. Ed. Robert Brent Toplin. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2000. 166—177. Mackey-Kallis, Susan. Oliver Stone’s America. Boulder: Westview Press, 1996. â€Å"Novel.† Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 10th edition. 2002. Platoon (Special Edition). Dir. Oliver Stone. 1986. DVD, MGM. 2001. Riordan, James. Stone. New York: Hyperion, 1995.

Studies of Religion One Unit Hsc – Secularism Speech

What is secularism? Secularism is the belief that religion should not interfere with or be integrated into the public affairs of a society. Oxford dictionary defines â€Å"secular† as â€Å"concerned with the affairs of the world, not religious or spiritual† so in this sense all civil government is â€Å"secular†. The only civil governments that are not fully secular in this sense are Vatican City and some fundamentalist Moslem states. The governments of all the major countries in the world – including Australia, the USA, Great Britain, New Zealand, Italy, India, etc are all secular governments.There are multiple factors which have contributed to the decline of religion's relevance for the integration and legitimation of modern life. The increasing pluralism and materialism of society alongside society's increasing individualism and dissatisfaction with traditional religions are major reasons for secularisation. This trend is most evident in the significan t increase in the number of people responding â€Å"No religion† in the census alongside an overall decline in the Christian figures recorded in the census Interfaith Dialogue and growing secularism.Since World War II, Australia’s population has grown and become more diverse and Australians have become more secular in nature. Secularists believe that people are comfortable without the reference to God in their lives. There are a number of reasons for the increase in secularism in Australia; these include increasing pluralism i. e. the acceptance of all religions as equal; individualism and materialism – spirituality may be overlooked when power, looks, possessions and fame are offered instead. What Impact did Secularism have on the Religious landscape of Australia post 1945?The rise of secularism has led to both a drop in the numbers of people regularly attending religious service. In 1947 only 0. 3% of the population classified themselves as having â€Å"No Re ligion†. However, in 1971 the instruction â€Å"if no religion, write none† was introduced into the census. This saw a seven-fold increase from the previous census year in the percentage of persons stating they had no religion (0. 8% in 1966 to 6. 7% in 1971). Thus many people who would have previously fallen under the â€Å"Not Stated† category were now included. Since 1971 this percentage has progressively increased to about 16. 5% in 1996, with a dip to 15. % in 2001. The 2001 census figures reveal that Christianity is still the numerically largest religious tradition in Australia accounting for 68. 0% of the population. However, there has been a significant decline in the percentage of people affiliated with Christianity. Furthermore, of those claiming affiliation there has been a decline in the regular attendance of religious services. The ongoing decline in most Christian groups as a percentage of the population is due to increasing secularization as well a s other factors such as dissatisfaction with traditional religious movements, aging membership, and a lack of migrant intake.Effects of secularism †¢Loss of religious values. †¢Lack of religious church practice – civil marriages, non religious funerals, shopping malls (the new cathedrals) †¢Seeking alternative â€Å"religions† or â€Å"forms of spirituality†. †¢Social standing of clergy/church – trustworthiness †¢Political social action – Marxism, Green Movement etc. †¢Influence of scientific humanism, economic rationalism †¢Rise of New Age Religions which focus on personal satisfaction, wealth, self help groups, happiness, mind and spirit exhibitions, personal meditation, affirmation environmental â€Å"sit – ins†. These have all attained quasi religious status.

Imperialism and Its Motives essays

Imperialism and Its Motives essays Imperialism began to grow just before the turn of the twentieth century. During this time Americas businesses were growing and need more markets. The United States was becoming a world power, and with that some people felt there came obligations. The United States economic growth and powerful figured led to incidents overseas that caused war, especially the Spanish-American War. The nation was growing. Industry was doing well. Businesses were booming. The United States began to shed its old attitude of isolationism, for the prospect of the rest of the world as its market. The navy of the nation was the fifth best in the world so be had naval strength. People were advocating expansion for religious reasons. They wanted to spread Christianity and conform the culture of the world to American standards. An example of the wants during this time was a book written by Josiah Strong called Our Country and Its Possible Future and Present Crisis. To expand the nations influence over the world we needed open markets, open routes, and to show strength. The Spanish-American War was the prime example of showing what the United States was doing with its new power and economic standing. Strong figures came to the forefront to support the engagement of this war for a list of reasons. Among some these reason were the fear that if Spain had control over Cuba then the shipping routes would be disrupted. America hid behind the noble reasons of being sympathetic to the Cuban patriots who were fighting for their independence and to stop the Spanish from using reconcentration camps. Chief among the leaders were Henry Cabot Lodge, the influential senator from Massachusetts, Theodore Roosevelt, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Captain Alfred Mahan, author of the book called The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, an influential work calling for and adding the use of th ...

Ibn Battuta and the Role of Women essays

Ibn Battuta and the Role of Women essays The role of women in society of Dar al-Islam in the 14th century and the world of Utopia have some similarities and many differences. The attitude toward the women of both societies differs for the most part. The location, different centuries and different religious backgrounds tend to account for the differences in opinions of the roles of women. The role of women in the 14th century society of Dar al Islam is limited to very few tasks. Under the guise of the patriarchal society, the males do not feel that the women can manage work, marriage, free choice and the right to make independent decisions. The women are domestic workers preparing food for many men to eat, preparing rooms for these men to meet in and sleep in, raising children and fulfilling men's desires. Many of the women are slaves and do many menial tasks. They do not seem to have any free time nor do they seem to be able to further their education. Ibn Battuta observes different customs as to the treatment of women. He did not agree with many of the local practices concerning women. He thought they were inconsistent with Islamic rectitude. In many cases he is very critical of women having a high status or being able to meet socially with men. He is also critical of women who in his view are not modest in dress, going topless, and not having their faces covered. He praises women who cover up and are thereby modest. Ibn is extremely strict, as a Muslim qadi would be about adultery and prostitution. One of Ibn Battuta's greatest aberrations was the women's modesty and the males acceptance of it. While Ibn was in Iwalatan he commented that,"most of the inhabitants belong to the Massufa, and as for their women they are extremely beautiful and are more important than men" (Battuta, 37). This seems to differ from the beliefs Ibn was raised with. The women in his life and religious settings were not more important then men. They wore ...

Business Thank You Letter How To

Business Thank You Letter How To Updated November, 2014 - Thanks to Leslie Harpold for this 6-step process, published in TMN, Oct.1, 2003. Leslie passed away in 2006. I’ve long admired her writing, and am sad to see it disappearing from the Internet, as her sites have not been renewed after her death. Leslie’s directions on writing the perfect thank you letter are flawless, and I want to help keep her work published, so here is her essay. I made tiny tweaks to match her instructions to business use. There is a six-point formula to the proper thank-you: Learn it, know it, memorize it – and it will never fail you. Having trouble finding the right words to thank your client for the contract or your colleague for the assistance? Should you even bother? Oh, yes, you should. Somewhere in between mom making us sit down with our Disney Stationary and shooting off an email, we’ve lost touch with the concept of simple thank you notes. Now that we’re business professionals, sometimes an email just won’t do, and more is expected than scratching out â€Å"Thanks for the help, you rock!† Grandma might not say anything to you, but trust me: She and her friends are probably at this very moment sighing over how business people today just don’t have manners. As extra motivation, thank you notes improve the frequency and quality of the help and good will you receive. People like being appreciated, and if they feel you actually notice the nice things they do for you, they’re more likely to give an encore performance. Writing a thank you is easier than you remember. Buy good quality plain note cards or plain postcards (yes, postcards are perfectly acceptable), and correct postage. Avoid the pre-inscribed ‘Thank you!’ cards in loopy script, as there are times you’ll want to write notes where that aesthetic feels wrong. Tip: Stay away from full-size sheets- note cards are best, as your message will be brief, and would look lost swimming around on a page that large. Use your printer to customize your plain paper with your name and address, for a more formal look, if you don’t want to invest in personalized business stationary. 1. Greet the Giver Dear David: That’s the easy part, but you’d be surprised how many people forget it. Dale Carnegie taught us people love to hear their own names and Direct Marketing is sure we also love to read them in ink. That’s right, ink. Blue-black is always the number-one choice, but black will suffice in a pinch. Don’t let a whimsical marker color be the most stunning part of your note: instead let the words sing without the amplification of rainbow hues. Even if your handwriting is poor, you should still hand-write your notes. 2. Express Your Gratitude Thank you for your help with our corporate community service project. Thank you for your invaluable advice with my department’s annual goals. Thank you for your business. This first paragraph seems like it would be the easiest, but it is actually the most complicated. Beware the just writing trap. You are not â€Å"just writing to say† as in I am just writing to say; that’s stating the obvious.If the giver is reading, clearly you have already written. Therefore use the present-perfect tense. Also, never directly mention money if you are thankful for a donation. â€Å"Thank you for the one hundred dollar donation† could instead be â€Å"Thank you for your generosity.† All cash denominations become â€Å"your generosity† or â€Å"your kindness.† Don’t worry if it sounds too simple; the point of writing the note is to create a simple expression of a heartfelt sentiment. 3. Discuss Use Your donation will add to ABC’s ability to support 1500 meals at the community shelter. Your advice enabled me to see through the obstacles, and clearly outline my expectations for our productivity this year to my team. We will contact everyone in your team and present the health programs available to them. 4. Mention the Past, Allude to the Future It was great to work with you at the fundraiser, and I hope to see you at the community service dinner in May. Your leadership has long guided me, and I continue to learn from your skill mentoring and supporting your team. I’m grateful for our long working relationship, and eager to support this new project for ABC Corporation. 5. Grace Thanks again for your donation. Thanks again for your advice. Thanks again for the opportunity to work with you. It’s not overkill to say thanks again. So, yes, say it. 6. Regards Best regards, Karen Simply wrap it up. Use whatever closing works for you and your business relationship: Kind regards, Yours truly, Sincerely. Then sign your name and you’re done. What’s Not There Any news about your personal or business life. This isn’t the time to boast about your new project, promotion, or bonus. The thank you is exclusively about thanking somebody for their kindness or assistance. While you may want more than anything to show them you amounted to something, this is not the forum. Save that for your annual holiday letter. Now mail it promptly. Even if your business colleagues aren’t of the note-writing variety, be the one who sets the precedent. Thank you note writing is one of the loveliest traditions to have been compromised by the information age, and sending well written thanks is a great opportunity for you to stand out.

Marketing report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing report - Essay Example is to serve the telecommunication needs of the customers, it is imperative that a wired headset and a microphone is provided to the customers in the packet with the phone, but a wireless Bluetooth device should also be made available at an affordable price because people prefer to go wireless while they are travelling and so on. Since the Smartphone Shocker also has the JOLT technology built in with it, it should also develop a travel charger, even though the JOLT technology has its own charging up device, people would want to keep their cell phones charged all the time and since while travelling phones are idle, the travel charger would make sure that people are able to charge their phones and keep their batteries powered up so that they never have to miss a call or message due to a dead battery. Another accessory which is very important for cell phone users these days is the data cable which enables them to directly link their personal computers to their phones, though phones can also be connected through Bluetooth technology but a data cable is much more secure than the Bluetooth and enables customers to perform many more functions than the Bluetooth technology does, hence a data cable should also be included with the cell phone in the package. The data cable can also be used to charge the phone through the personal computer, so where sockets are not easily available, customers can just plug their phone into their laptops and charge the phone. Since the Smartphone Shocker has a media player and it can also serve as a music player for its customers, a dock station could also be developed for the consumers, this would enable the customers to connect their phone to the dock station and the dock station would have speakers on which customers can listen to their favorite music while their phone is being charged. To customers it is all about convenience and the availability of options, the more convenient a device is or the more options that they have through