WEST SPRINGFIELD – West Springfield High School students put their understanding of physics and engineering to the test with the 14th annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest on Nov. 3.

“We’ve been throwing things here in physics classes for a long, long, long, long time,” current engineering and former physics teacher Howard Bernard said. “About 14 years ago, I heard about the National Championship Punkin’ Chunkin’ in Delaware and so we switched to throwing pumpkins.”

In previous years, the devices were built by physics students, but when Bernard switched his class schedule it opened the door for students in robotics and other classes.

Teams of students built one of three types of pumpkin launching apparatus – slingshot, catapult, trebuchet – to see who could hurl the fall fruit the farthest.

“The different categories of machine compete against each other only,” Bernard explained. “Trebuchet, there’s a little more in terms of bragging rights if you can get it to perform well.”

Teams also had a strict budget of $75.89. The budget was $75 for many years until the state raised the sales tax, at which point Bernard increased the limit by 89 cents to allow participants to purchase the same amount of materials as they could in prior years.

“It has to be rigorously documented,” Bernard said of the budget. “There’s an electronic spreadsheet they have to fill out and they have to provide proof and receipts.”

Video of this year’s Punkin’ Chunkin’s best performers:

 

Highlights from the 14th annual Punkin Chunkin in #westside! #pumpkins #catapults #physics #engineering #stem

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