Which instability risk increased in Roman ballistae when using lower-density projectile stones during sieges?

💡 Explanation

When lower density stones were used, the reduced projectile mass allowed the torsion springs to accelerate faster and wind further under the same applied energy, because kinetic energy is inversely proportional with mass for constant energy input, exceeding design limits. Therefore torsional spring overwinding damage could occur, rather than cable slippage, arm fracture or poor recoil, which would reflect different failure modes.

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