CLEVELAND -- Halloween took a scientific twist at Case Western Reserve University as the Department of Physics hosted its third annual Galileo Pumpkin Drop at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 31 in front of Strosacker Auditorium.
Provost James Wagner had the honor of releasing two pumpkins of different weights to test Galileo's theory that all objects fall at the same rate.
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Lawrence Krauss, chair of the Department of Physics, welcomed spectators to the event. More than 200 students, faculty, and staff members gathered on the Case Quad to witness the pumpkin dropping.
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Daniel Akerib (center, seated), assistant professor of physics, and students from the astronomy and physics clubs used a variety of equipment to record data on the experiment, for later analysis.
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The smaller pumpkin has dropped further than the larger pumpkin with approximately 5 meters remaining until they hit the ground -- but apparently the smaller pumpkin got a head start when its side of the dropping platform opened slightly before the platform section holding the larger pumpkin opened.
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Regardless of the rate at which they fell,
the pumpkins made a big mess
upon crashing to the ground.
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A videographer from channels 19 (WOIO) and 43 (WUAB) films some footage of the post-drop pumpkin mess, as background footage for the stations' planned airing of the event during their October 31 evening broadcasts.
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