Monday, November 2, 2015

Leaflet: CHUNKIN' PUMPKINS

I prepared this leaflet and passed it out today at CHUNKIN' PUMPKINS today.  It was a project of Boy Scouts Troop Six of Quincy and was held at Merrymount Park.   Great project, lots of fun and excitement.  Wonderful learning experience for the boys.  When printed, this leaflet folds in thirds (the long way).  
FRONT
DID YOU KNOW THAT
YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS
WHILE CHUNKIN'
PUMPKINS!
trebuchet, or catapult

This is about the science involved in chunkin' pumpkins – or any other projectile!

It looks at the following questions:

What simple machines are involved?
What kind of forces are involved?
What kind of things can I look for?


INSIDE LEFT
SIMPLE MACHINES
What are some simple machines found on a trebuchet?
Look for them!

SOME SIMPLE MACHINES:
LEVER -
You use a lever when you 
swing a baseball bat
kick a soccer ball

ROPE AND PULLEY -
You use a rope and pulley when you
open a venetian blind
use a fishing pole

INSIDE CENTER
WHAT KIND OF FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN USING THE PUMPKIN LAUNCH?

FORCES
Push – Pull – Turn, or Torque
INERTIA
the tendency to remain at rest – or the tendency to remain in motion
VELOCITY
speed combined with direction, e.g., Wind velocity is 20 miles per hour coming from the southwest.



INSIDE RIGHT
WHAT KIND OF THINGS CAN I LOOK FOR?
potential energy
angle of launch
kinetic energy
projectile motion

Time in the air
Horizontal distance traveled
Calculate velocity
What height achieved
Similarities? Differences?



BACK
Chunkin' pumpkins, or any other activity involving launching a projectile...

is just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry. I hope this leaflet introduces you to seeing things you never saw before – or wondered about but just didn't know where to start.

Physics and geometry come into play in every activity and event going on around us.
Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun. So give it a try. How?

  • Start with the information here
  • You may not understand everything in it right away, but for now, use what you do understand
  • Do an online search of your own
  • See what books or videos your library has
  • Share them with friends, your class, your team, your scout troop
  • Read my blog and tell others:
    sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com or Gateway to Science: Sports and Games
Thank you! Kathy Hogan


Sports and games are the gateway to science,
and YOU hold the key!

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