Physics Students Make A Big Splash!

Last spring, The Whitfield School’s Accelerated Physics class took on an exciting project that ended with a splash—literally! Under the guidance of physics teacher, Mr. Asikainen, the students built a working trebuchet, which is a type of catapult. The grand finale? Launching water balloons at brave faculty members from a distance of 50 meters!

Physics is the study of how things move and interact, and it’s the basis for many of the technologies we use every day. At Whitfield, students in the Accelerated Physics class spend two years learning about important topics like how fluids flow, how heat works, and even how magnets and light behave. This project was a fun way to put all that learning into action.

The students started by drawing up plans in the classroom, figuring out the best way to design their trebuchet. They used math to calculate how far it would throw the water balloons. They had to consider things like the weight of the counterweight, the length of the arm, and the angle at which the balloon would be released.

Once the plans were ready, the students built small models to test their ideas. Then, they headed to the woodshop, where they constructed the full-sized trebuchet. Standing 15 feet tall, this massive machine was ready for launch day!

On the big day, the trebuchet was brought out to the practice field. The students loaded water balloons, adjusted the angles, and got ready to fire. Faculty members, including Dr. Hayes and Mrs. Ringe, volunteered to be the targets. The excitement of seeing water balloons fly through the air and sometimes hit their marks made for a super fun event that had everyone talking.

Mr. Asikainen said, “Building the trebuchet was not only a great way for students to use what they learned in physics, but it also taught them how to work together and solve problems. Plus, it’s something they’ll remember for a long time!”

This project wasn’t just about learning physics it was about teamwork, creativity, and making memories that will last a lifetime. If you think physics is all about numbers and equations, think again! At Whitfield, IT’S ALSO ABOUT MAKING A SPLASH.