Physics helps Huntington Middle students prepare for pumpkin drop

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!

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