Play Catapult: How to Make a Pumpkin Chunkin' Catapult

In recent years, Halloween time has brought a new competition to light. Rather than carving pumpkins, these traditional squashes are being used for a new sporting competition. Catapults, or trebuchets, have been devised to throw pumpkins far distances. These pumpkin chunkin' catapults are constructed by multiple teams to determine the farthest throwing machine. Each team creates their own strategy for constructing the best functioning catapult. However, building a successful catapult requires some knowledge regarding physics and levers.

Instructions

Connect four 2-by-4 wood lumber pieces together, in a square formation, using nails and a hammer.

Attach a tall lumber post to one side of the square using nails and a hammer. Repeat the same installation on the opposite side of the square.

Connect four to six 2-by-4 wood lumber pieces from the square formation to one of the protruding posts, creating multiple triangle shapes. Repeat this installation for the opposite post. The triangles form a supportive structure for the posts.

Drill a hole into each post, about six inches below the top, with a power drill.

Drill a hole into another tall wood lumber post, positioned near the end of wood, with a power drill. The drilled hole should be far off center to create the catapult's fulcrum.

Line up the lumber post's drilled hole with the holes on the installed posts. Insert a wood dowel through the installed posts' holes and the loose lumber post, creating a pivot point.

Attach a heavy weight, such as stacked weightlifting plates, to the short end of the post hanging between the protruding posts, using glue or straps. Make sure the weight is significantly greater than the intended pumpkin for throwing.

Connect a bucket on the opposite end of the hanging wood post using nails and a hammer. Verify that the bucket will fit the intended pumpkin.

Test the catapult by adding the pumpkin to the bucket. Push the weighted side upward and allow it to release downward, effectively tossing the pumpkin.

Pumpkin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a gourd -like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds). It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the ...
How to Build a Temporary Wood-fired Brick Pizza Oven with Cheap ...
www.mikesenese.com/DOIT/2009/10/how-to-build-a-temporary-wood...
A fast, easy, low-cost project for someone who wants to test out brick oven cooking. Can be made semi-permanent for a season of delicious pizza and bread baking
Eight online trebuchet and catapult plans and blueprints DO IT ...
www.mikesenese.com/DOIT/2010/10/trebuchet-roundup-eight-online...
Its autumn again. Such a wonderful time of year. Cider, hay rides, freshly bought school supplies. And launching things far through the air with catapults and ...
Milford Pumpkin Festival
www.milfordpumpkinfestival.org
Attracting over 35,000 people from the region, the Milford Great Pumpkin Festival is held each year in the fall. Featured are some of the largest pumpkins in New ...
Punkin Chunkin Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/punkinchunkin
Punkin Chunkin. 10,762 likes 8 talking about this. ... Gotta love the sight of hundreds of sub sonic punkins hurling... 'nuff said.
Other Craft Projects - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com Hobbies, Games & Toys Crafts
Don't just sit there scratching your head, find useful info on Other Craft Projects on eHow. Get essential tips and learn more about everything from How to Make an ...
Catapult Crazy! Everything about Catapults!
www.stormthecastle.com/catapult/index.htm
Catapult Crazy! You want to make a catapult? I have them all right here! Torsion, rubber bands, popsicle stick, mousetrap, even multiple fire catapults!
Punkin Chunkin- Catapults - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXNgHoIBPXM
For more, visit http://science.discovery.com/tv/punki... Lock and load. Sounds simple right? Well, these chunkers are finding creative ways to take ...
Trebuchet Plans - Pumpkin Chunking Catapult - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AujMhusQEw8
http://www.realtrebuchetplans.com Complete plans for building a real working trebuchet. Impress your friends (including that fair damsel in your life) when ...
Punkin Chunkin
www.punkinchunkin.com
Hosts annual pumpkin machine-chucking event. Includes directions, forums, FAQ and results, contests and image gallery.
PigProgress - Home
www.pigprogress.net/home
PigProgress.net provides quality Information for the pig (hog/swine) farmer, breeder, veterinarian and service companies with the latest global pig (hog/swine/pork ...
The All-New Pumpkin Village Mapleside Farms
maplesidefarms.net/?p=127
The All-New Pumpkin Village News and Updates for Mapleside Farms in Brunswick Ohio
Double Fine Double Feature Polygon
www.polygon.com/features/2012/12/13/3726930/double-fine-double...
Tim Schafer Tim Schafer By Arthur Gies It's the second day of PAX, and Tim Schafer is signing Psychonauts posters at Double Fine's booth. He's talking to fans ...
Allison Fine
allisonfine.com
Thousands of people stood in Times Square protesting the acquittal of George Zimmerman. They were matched by protesters in Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco ...
Missouri Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More, Find ...
pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/MOpumpkins.php
This web site has a complete list of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides and more in Missouri (and the rest of the United States, Canada, and other countries) along ...
Hobbies, Games & Toys - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com/hobbies-games
Arts and crafts, video games, antiquing, science experiments--what's your fancy? eHow's covered all of your hobby-related needs, so discover something new!
About the Center for International Security and Cooperation - CISAC
cisac.stanford.edu/docs/about_cisac
About the Center for International Security and Cooperation . The Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) is Stanford Universitys hub for ...
MAKE Projects and Sensors and Pi Oh-My!
makezine.com/2013/03/23/projects-and-sensors-and-pi-oh-my
The projects already submitted to the first ever Raspberry Pi Design Contest not only exhibit the capabilities of the Pi,