The bright orange sight of airborne gourds filled the skies at WVU Potomac State College’s fifth annual Trunk-or-Treat event Oct. 30. Thanks to an enterprising team of engineering students and the potential for pure frivolity, the Catamount Catapult made its debut at the Kelly Recreation Center.
Six students enrolled in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering course 241 took on an exciting extra credit challenge this fall: designing and building a working pumpkin-launching catapult (technically a trebuchet in a catapult frame). The course covers engineering applications of force equilibrium and the use of vector operations and free-body diagrams to analyze forces in trusses, frames, and other structures.
Under the guidance of Professors Joan Vogtman and Donna Ballard, the team spent every Tuesday since early September welding, assembling, and testing their creation. Once the counterweights were calibrated, Professor John Stone was given the honor of the initial launch. Throughout the evening, the pumpkins were chucked across the field, much to the unexpected delight of foraging deer.
The Catamount Catapult was the newest feature of the College’s Halloween event, which was enjoyed by nearly 700 costumed children and their families from the community. More than 150 volunteers decorated vehicles with spirited themes and set up candy-filled tables to greet the guests. Pony rides in the College’s riding area were also a highlight of the annual event. The College’s Athletic department spearheads the event, with athletic teams and College clubs appearing in themed costumes. Visit the College’s Facebook and Flickr pages for more photos from the day.
Left to right: (Jesse Moore, Joan Vogtman, Adyn Weaver, Marshall Robison, Lucas Hart, William Boddy, Adam Cannon)