2006 Water Balloon Launcher Contest

Date:	Monday, May 8, 2006
Time:	1:00pm - 2:30pm
Place:	West Branch Football Field
Description:	This event was a class project in Mr. Hoffman's Physics class. This was the fifth year of the competition. The activity is meant as a fun application of ideas and concepts that we work with throughout the school year: forces, vectors, linear and rotational mechanics. It gives the students a look at the amount of work that goes into the design process.
Rules:	Each student's water balloon launcher is judged on both distance and accuracy. Students are free to construct their machines in any way they see fit. The only restriction is that all of the energy must be supplied by the human operator. Compressed or flammable gases, explosive devices, or other external sources of energy are not permitted.

Catapault Designs

This catapault, designed by Michael Bloom, stores potential energy in a pair of steel coil springs.

Trebuchet Designs

This trebuchet was designed by Wesley Boyd. Wesley won first place in the accuracy part of the competition. His best shot landed only 1.5 feet away from the target at a distance of 35 yards.

This trebuchet was designed by Arnold Pelka. If there had been a prize for craftsmanship, this well-constructed machine surely would have won it.

Slingshot Designs

This slingshot was designed by Chris Coble. Chris won first place in the distance part of the competition with a distance of 226 feet. That is slightly over 75 yards, or 3/4 of the length of a football field.

Jaime Quick recovers from her final balloon launch, where her father unofficially provided a little extra pulling power!

Dan Bumbarger prepares to launch his slingshot. Instead of using traditional round bungee cords, Dan experimented with a thin sheet of elastic material.

Robert Dreibelbis applies maximum power to his slingshot as Chris Coble and Dan Bumbarger await the launch.

Mr. Hoffman and Mrs. Brickley review the scores as the 2006 competition draws to a close. Despite the big target on his shirt, Mr. Hoffman once again managed to narrowly escape getting wet during the accuracy part of the competition. We're all hoping that someone will get lucky next year!