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← HistoryWhich limitation constrained Roman ballista projectiles launched at fortified walls?
A)Trajectory affected by crosswinds
B)Limited range due to cable elasticity✓
C)Projectile weight damages the spring-arm
D)Fragility from single metal casting
💡 Explanation
Early Roman ballistae used twisted skeins of animal sinew or plant fiber as torsion springs but cable elasticity resulted because the elastic potential energy would not scale beyond projectiles beyond a certain weight reducing range significantly. Therefore range was limited, rather than inaccuracy resulting from crosswinds or fragility from single metal castings requiring specific construction methods.
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