Each year, physics and technology students at Independence High School participate in an annual pumpkin drop competition. This tradition allows students to apply lessons on Newton's laws by designing protective devices for plummeting pumpkins.
This year's event, held on October 30, involved students from physics, technology engineering, and design courses collaborating to construct apparatuses to safeguard their pumpkins during the drop. The city's service department provided a lift truck to hoist the pumpkins up for the event.
Students had to follow rules, such as prohibiting parachutes and bungee cords, ensuring at least half the pumpkin remained visible, and limiting total weight to 30 pounds. Despite these constraints, the students showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills.
The pumpkin drop allows the technology engineering and physics classes to find practical applications for their classroom lessons throughout the year. By working together, the students deepen their understanding of physics concepts while developing important collaborative and engineering abilities.
The IHS students welcomed all seventh and eighth-grade students to watch. The IMS students were excited to see a glimpse of the fun, interactive lessons they can participate in when they go to IHS.
