Junior Eric Pillai practices shooting a catapult after Physics class. Students were assigned to build catapults that could hit a target 15 feet away, a daunting task for many.

by Stephanie Palazzolo, senior editor

Physics I AP students ended their Newton’s Laws and Forces units with a catapult-building project. Students were required to build catapults that launched ping pong balls. A bulls-eye was placed 15 feet away from the catapult, each ring worth more points the closer it was to the center.

Students were allowed to use any material, as long as the catapult didn’t exceed the two feet by two feet area.  Many students chose to decorate their catapults for extra points; a multitude of catapults were Halloween-themed, since the project was due on the 31st. Catapults ranged from simple, small ones made of Popsicle sticks and plastic spoons to elaborate designs complete with smoking cauldrons and golden finishes.