SIX The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, March 9, 1978
Catapults, eggs and kids
Science project tanis iiigeiraity iiito fcsi
by Elane Blanchet
A tradition was re-born at Heppner Junior High School
last Thursday when 18 teams of enthusiastic eighth grade
scientists flung eggs hither and yon with their original-design
catapults in what promises to be the First Annual Eighth
Grade Catapult Contest.
Junior High science teacher Syreece Hornbuckle is as
enthusiastic as her students with the way the catapult project
developed.
"I had seventh graders come to me after the contest and
say, 'Miss Hornbuckle, I already have a plan for my
catapult.' It's nice to establish a tradition. We'll definitely
have it again next year," she said.
Eggs and catapults have been combined before in the
Heppner junior high, originally by former teacher Inez
Metter, but the idea hasn't been used for several years. With
its revival this year, the concept of launching eggs with
catapults still proves to be a winner.
The students worked on their catapults for six weeks,
starting with research on the concept, designing and drawing
up the plans for their own models, and finally constructing
the individual designs. After completing a working catapult,
the next objective was to construct an egg container which
would enable the fragile shell to be hurled by the catapult
without breaking.
"This was one of the few times the students get to put
their own ideas to work," said Miss Hornbuckle. "They had a
lot of freedom which they really enjoyed." She added that
though much secrecy surrounded individual team designs,
most of the catapults constructed fell into two basic types of
propulsion: sling shot and spring action.
The catapult judged to have the most unique design was
developed by the team of Jeff Sumner and Kelly Crewse. It
was a large, four-foot x four-foot construction with a long
metal rod that cranked back to propell the egg. "A deadly
thing," Miss Hornbuckle described it. The design was more
than unique it worked! The Sumner-Crewse team walked
off with second in the Farthest Distance category and first in
Farthest Distance Without Breaking Egg.
Catapult Contest Winners
Farthest Distance
1. Don Lott-Dorian Forrar
2. Jeff Sumner-Kelly Crewse
3. Joe Struthers-Andy Gorman
Farthest Distance Without Egg Breaking
1. Jeff Sumner-Kelly Crewse
Joe Struthers-Andy Gorman
Cindy Bergstrom-Darcy Hollomon
Best Egg Container
1. Lea Rush-Darrel Miles
2. Patti Devine-Sandra Ward
3. Doug Holland-Rick Klaus
Most Unique Catapult
1. Jeff Sumner-Kelly Crewse
2. Mark Launer-Pat Parker
3. Stephani Sams-Ann Lindsay
Oops
1. Earl Hammand Mike Rothe
2. Sheridan Sweek-Cindy Gochnauer
3. Stephanie Sams-Ann Lindsay
11 teams Unbroken Egg Award
7 teams The Yolk's On You Award
A catapult that used a bow-and-arrow mounted on a box
for its launching power won second in Unique Design
competition. It was engineered by Mark Launer and Pat
Parker.
Stephanie Sams and Ann Lindsay concocted an elaborate
catapult from welded metal and pipe using a huge coiled
spring for propulsion that earned third place in Unique
Design. Unfortunately, they also won third place in the Oops
category their complicated machine only tossed the egg a
few feet. Miss Hornbuckle said they probably got the least
return of any team for the most work.
Most of the egg containers were made from styrofoam,
for both lightness and protection. Lea Rush and Darrell Miles
developed the most unique container design, combining
styrofoam, silicon 'goo' and foam balls, with the egg neatly
cushioned in the center. Needless to say, their egg did not
break in catapult action.
The Oops awards were given to those poor contestants,
who despite their best efforts, just didn't quite make it. The
winning team was Earl Hammond and Mike Rothe who
somehow managed to break their catapult before even
getting one egg off the ground. Sheridan Sweek and Cindy
Gochnauer came in second in the division their paper
mache egg container proved too heavy for their machine to
launch.
The whole school, from kindergarten through eighth
grade, turned out for the contest at 2 p.m. on March 2, with
many interested spectators, including proud parents. Though
the day was cold, in the 20's, spirits were high.
Probably the most remarkable performance of the day
was put on by the team of Don Lott and Dorian Forrar. Using
a solid rectangular frame catapult made out of 2 by is with a
powerful spring release, the team launched their egg 96 feet,
over twice as far as their nearest competitor Sumner
Crewse, who managed 46 feet. Though their egg broke, they
set a record that will be hard to beat in future years.
And from the excitement generated by the initial contest,
eighth graders in Heppner will now have something else to
shoot for.
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Pam Marquardt demonstrates the effectiveness of the small,
simple catapult she developed with her partner Becky Smith.
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The winning team of Don Lott and Dorian Forrar (center) ready their giant catapult for its
impressive 96-foot launch. . . . , .
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Patti Devine (1) and Sandra Ward prime their big sling for action. Doug Garrett offers smiling
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Joe Struthers (1) and Andy Gorman prepare to hurl an egg from their novel launching pad while
Lea Rush looks on.
This bow-and-arrow contraption earned Pat Parker (1) and Mark Launer second place in the
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