Siege engines are large, mechanical devices used in warfare to break through fortifications or walls during a siege. They include various types, such as catapults, trebuchets, and battering rams, each designed to launch projectiles or apply force to structures. These machines were crucial in medieval battles, allowing armies to overcome fortified positions. The design and operation of siege engines relied on principles of physics and engineering. For example, catapults used tension or torsion to hurl stones, while battering rams were heavy beams swung to smash gates. Their effectiveness often determined the outcome of sieges throughout history.