A catapult does many different things that relate to different physical principles. The great physical principle of the catapult is that it uses Newton's first, second and third laws. In fact, all three of Newton's laws may also have a lot to do with firefighters and how they work. This essay will relate the physical principle of the catapult, Newton's laws and its relationship with firefighters. It addresses three main ideas: what Newton's laws are, how they relate to the catapult, and how Newton's laws relate to firefighters. This will help you identify the main ideas of firefighters and how Newton's laws are used every day in the service. Knowing how catapults work and the laws could greatly help firefighters in everything they do at the fire scene. Newton's First Law states that an object remains at rest or in uniform rectilinear motion unless an external force intervenes. That objects will remain in their state of motion unless a force acts to change their motion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Newton's first law refers to the catapult. The catapult arm is pulled back and let go, this causes a change in motion, which causes the projectile object to move. Specifically, tension and spring force set the object in motion when the arm is released, resulting in an unbalanced force. Newton's second law states that the acceleration of an object produced by a force is proportional to the magnitude of the force, in the same direction as the force, and proportional to the mass of the object. Catapults are a good way to learn about the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. The mass and weight of the payload will influence the power distance of the launch; furthermore, the smaller the mass of the payload, the more resistance it will receive from air resistance. Newton's third law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This statement means that in every interaction there is a pair of forces acting on the two interacting objects. The magnitude of the forces on the first object is equal to the magnitude of the force on the second object. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Newton's third law of motion states that for every action force, there is a reaction force that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. The catapult arm pushes up on the rubber bands with a lot of force, but my hand pushes back, in the opposite direction, causing the catapult arm to move downward. Only when I remove my hand and the rubber band absorbs that force and moves the arm up will you have the greatest force.