Which material's lower availability created a major limit on Roman ballista projectile range versus torsion spring power?

💡 Explanation

When ballista torsion springs were pushed toward higher tension, the limiting factor became obtaining sufficient quantities of high-tensile capability wrought iron due to bloomery steel methods, rather than oak timbers. Therefore tensile steel controlled spring limits, rather than oak, ropes or flint which could be more consistently sourced.

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• During a Roman siege, which defensive consequence arises from constructing an artillery-resistant glacis slope?
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• Which optical consequence resulted from medieval Islamic scholars grinding spherical lens surfaces for astronomical instruments?