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!