Students learn physics by chunkin' pumpkins

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Posted: Wed 5:46 PM, Oct 24, 2012

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Reporter: Megan Lowry Email

Updated: Wed 5:48 PM, Oct 24, 2012

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Students learn physics by chunkin' pumpkins

(WEAU)--Physics students at Cameron High School are taking the classroom out of the learning equation today--trading their paper and pencils for what's called... Punkin' Chuckin.

We define physics at the beginning of the year and it’s the study of how things work," said Brent Whittenberger.

There is no better way to learn how something works than to try it yourself

Whittenberger says math and science can be intimidating on paper, but this brings physics to life.

"The kids get excited over this. Instead of using some boring story problem this is real and it makes the problem more complex because they have to find the angles and use the math they already know,” said Whittenberger.

Using a 5 pound pumpkin and the catapult behind me the students will calculate how far the pumpkin travels and how fast

"We're collecting data and then use this data to extrapolate the velocity," said Alexander Birkholz

"We could do a virtual thing but then it’s a perfect situation. Here there are all kinds of factors like obviously it’s raining and the cameras aren’t picking up the pumpkins as well as we’d like but we are working through it and the kids are collaborating,” said Whittenberger.

And while it’s not every day you shoot a pumpkin out of a cannon, Whittenberger says problem solving is a skill students use daily.

“You understand it so much better if you take a pumpkin and smash it collect the data and they put in the equation than if you are just given the numbers,’ said Theresa Papantonatos.

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