Testing Pumpkin Chuckin PPT

1. PUMPKIN
CHUNKIN’

2. A Pumpkin Chunkin’?
• Theta Tau, professional engineering fraternity,
will be hosting a competition for high school
students involved with PLTW and FIRST to build a
catapult capable of tossing a uniform ball.
• All catapults will have the same dimensional
requirements.
• The competition will be judged by how accurately
the catapult can lob the ball at a target, how far
the ball can travel, and group rebuilding and
presentation

3. Requirements
• Base: 3ft wide x 4ft long x 5ft tall (excluding arm)
• Counter Weight: Maximum 200 lbs (can be barbell weights, rocks, or water)
– We will weigh rocks and we will watch and make sure the appropriate amount of water is
added
• The only force that will drive the counterweight is gravity. You can not have springs
attached. If we see these we may disqualify your team.
• Projectile: 2lb (6in diameter wooden ball with metal core)
– We will provide this for the day of the competition
• Instructors can guide students into the right direction since this is a large task.
However, instructors are not allowed to build the catapult for students or create
the blueprint for the catapult. This is an event to test how well the students
understand principles of engineering and physics.
• SAFETY
– Every trebuchet needs a safety mechanism that can be disarmed from 20ft away from the
catapult
– If you do not have a safety mechanism you will be disqualified
• FIRING MECHANISM
– The firing mechanism has to be disarmed from a distance of 25 ft from the catapult

4. Scoring
• Accuracy: 40pts (First Launch)
– Target will be set at 40yd
– A point will be deducted for every yard the projectile lands from the center of
the target
• Distance: 40pts (Second Launch)
– The furthest launch will be awarded 40 points
– Every team afterwards will receive points based on (their distance/furthest
distance)X40pts
• Rebuild/Group Presentation: 20 pts
– You can either set up your trebuchet on site or transport the full structure
– If you transport the full structure then the team must make a presentation
– If you rebuild on site that will count as your presentation
• This presentation is to gauge the knowledge gained by the students. This will show their
hard work as well as illuminate the though process behind their specific build. This
presentation will be conducted to make sure that the students grasp the knowledge and
physics behind their catapult. This will be judged by professors and students from USC’s
College of Engineering.

5. Distance will
be judged
based on
the vertical
distance
from the
center of the
catapult. In
the graphic,
the solid
lines would
be the
distance
measured.

6. Location
• ~135 Ginny Lane
Lexington, SC
29072
• 20+ acres
• Frontage road of 378
and 20 intersection

7. Prizes

8. Pumpkin Chunkin Contest
• First Place- $500 donated to their program
• Second Place- $350
• Third Place- $ 250
• All teams get certificates

9. Other Activities:
• Pay-for-play tickets will be sold
• These activities are subject to change
– Bobbing for Apples
– Face Painting
– Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest
– Cake Walk
– Pumpkin Decorating
– Cornhole
– Pumpkin Bowling

10. Points of Impact
• Reach out to high school students that are
considering engineering career paths.
• Recruit professors to participate in crucial
one-on-one interaction between potential
students.
• Support an organization that promotes
interest in the engineering field.
• Reach out to parents of students in order to
help with USC recruiting

11. People to Contact for Questions
• Ray Cormany (Fundraising Chair):
– Cormanjr@email.sc.edu
• Brooke Carroll:
– Carrolb2@email.sc.edu
• Kara Garrott:
– Garrott@email.sc.edu
• Cory Goodman:
– Goodmacm@email.sc.edu

12. Hope to See Everyone on
November 5 th!