Trebuchet

The Physics Club trebuchet began as an Advanced Lab design project and was entered twice in the Morton Punkin' Chuckin' contest. The first version, shown below, won 3rd place in 2001.

In 2002, the revised trebuchet shown below (now christened "Pumpkin Pi") won 2nd place at the Punkin' Chuckin' Contest in Morton. The team record was 613 ft.

In 2007 the trebuchet was given a complete redesign. In the picture below the physics club prepares the trebuchet for a demonstration at their trebuchet camp held in conjunction with the Children's Discovery Museum of Normal.

In October 2007 the club took first place at the Pumpkin Chunkin' contest in Morton. In the image below the club prepares to fire a test shot. The current record distance for the trebuchet is 929 ft. Read the story.

The Physics Club occasionally holds local mini-trebuchet contests for high school and university students.

For more information about Trebuchets, click here.