It’s pumpkin drop season in Huntington!
Dr. Sean P. McBride, associate professor of physics at Marshall University, visited Huntington Middle School’s 7th grade class to share a fun lesson on the physics behind the annual Pumpkin Drop. Students learned how concepts like force, impact, and momentum can make the difference between a smashed pumpkin and a surviving one.
After exploring the science, students brainstormed creative designs for their pumpkin enclosures—each hoping their design will protect their pumpkin when it’s dropped from the school’s fourth-floor roof on October 30.
Good luck to all the teams, and may the best physics prevail!