John Burroughs students send pumpkins flying

KSDK -- Students at John Burroughs School got an unusual lesson in physics that ended with splattered pumpkins all over the school parking lot.

It was the school's second annual pumpkin launch.  Kids took part in each of the school's three lunch periods.

Students had to purchase their pumpkins, which were donated by local retailers, and then launch them from a human-sized trebuchet with a 12-foot arm. The winner was determined by distance of the catapult and "splat."

Proceeds from the sale of pumpkins will support the design and construction of the school's third-generation super mileage vehicle. The vehicle, built by students in the Super Mileage Vehicle Club, runs on biodiesel fuel produced on campus using waste cooking oil from the school's kitchen. Last year's vehicle attained 150 miles per gallon in the state competition and claimed the engineering and experimental class awards.

Having perfected the production of the fuel, students and teachers will soon produce the fuel to power the school's maintenance vehicles on campus. The project operates under the auspices of the industrial technology, science and math departments.