JUDA - Over the course of October and early November, Juda's physics class studied velocity, acceleration, projectile motion and learned how to look at the world through a physicist's point of view. During this time, they built 1/8 scale catapults and completed a final launching on Nov. 10.

During the month-long project, the objective was to help students become accustomed to projectile motion, construction, measurements, observations and assumptions to solve problems. They also became more familiar with recording data, showing calculations and writing up analysis and conclusions.

Using an accurately-launched tennis ball, the students had to hit the target, their instructor, from a distance of approximately 60 to 75 feet. Seventeen students were divided into six teams and had three launches to hit their target, as well as competing for the longest launch following the accuracy portion. The team's names were Katapultos, JAM, EMS, Kinematics, M and N Rigging, and LRB.

No teams were able to hit their instructor, but were close. Team JAM, consisting of Joey Jordan, Alex Gobeli and Morgan Kamholz, won the accuracy portion, just missing their instructor by a few inches. The longest launch honor went to team LRB, consisting of Luke Jordan and Matt Trotter, with a launch of nearly 100 feet.